Willy Christmas 2013

 True to tradition, the Willy brood gathered together to read and act out the Nativity as read in Luke 2.

Soren wanted no part being cast as the baby Jesus this year. Mary Quincy struggled to force keep him on her lap finally gave up and got out a baby doll, then threw a white burp cloth over Soren and dubbed him a sheep.

Reese was the angel and brought good tidings of great joy and Corbin was a doting, topless Joseph.

Aaron played a strong donkey.

 As a shepherd, I did my best to corrale the wild sheep.

I love this tradition, and even though it is always chaotic, there is peace in the truths Aaron and I are teaching our children about the humble birth of our Lord and King.  

There was singing and hot cocoa, and a nice Christmas Eve turkey dinner.  Aaron and I wrapped the last of the gifts together and watched a christmas movie. 

 Christmas morning was the stuff the dreams of parents are made of.  The children were all so excited and grateful and filled over the top with pure joy. We took our time with gift giving and opening and spent the morning enjoying each gift as it was opened. 

Quincy watched every person open their gift and asked them if they liked it after. Her favorite gifts were her robe and slippers and a plush dolphin. She gave to Corbin this year and picked out a new pair of waterproof snow gloves and some paint-with-water coloring books that proved to be worth gold for entertainment during one of our snow days in January. She got an Elf on the Shelf floor puzzle that Reese and Corbin "helped" Soren pick out for her.

Corbin asked for a lion costume for Christmas and this robe was as close as we could get. He was elated. Rawr! His favorite gifts were a Jake and the Neverland Pirate's bath toy and a sleeping bag---that is still on top of his bed. He sleeps in it every night and it gets dragged all over the house during the day and is engineered into parts of forts, and today it was a sled that carried Corbin down the stairs treacherously.

Corbin gave to Reese this year and he picked out some new sidewalk chalk for her that she used a couple days later on a warm afternoon to make a "racetrack" in the street and driveway.
Reese's favorite gifts were her robe and slippers and a set of 3 way walkie talkies.  We took them with us to the Tulsa Zoo a few days later and the kids had a chance to test them out. Reese is also looking forward to starting group guitar lessons at the elementary school.

Soren was smothered with affectionate helpers while he opened his gifts.  Reese gave him a little ball tower that is still a big hit two months later.

Reese also made Aaron a "BYU bracelet" at a friend's house in October and saved it for months to give  it to Aaron for Christmas. She was validated when he kept it on for days.

 We spent the afternoon on Google chat, Skype, and FaceTime with our families and wished we could've been together for a great day.  Thank goodness for all of the incredible technology available at our fingertips to keep us connected to our far away families.

Mommies and babies got to play. I don't want to brag, but I was Nico's first kiss. He saw my face on grandpa Hal's iPad and planted one right one me. blush.

"Ground Control to Major Tom….Can you hear me Major Tom?"

The children opened their gifts from grandma and grandpas over Skype.  

 In the evening we played games and exchanged gifts with neighbors.

Merry Christmas, my little Willy children.  This Christmas was magical. Thank you for being ours, for your existence makes our Christmas 1,000,000 times better than we ever imagined it could be.  You are  our favorite Christmas gifts.