Two-for-One December Date Night

I didn't think we'd get tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert this year.  I forgot about the tickets going on sale, even though it was on my calendar, and I missed the rush.  It sold out in five minutes, anyway.  But Jen Ramsdell offered us two last-minute tickets!  I was going to go with Scott, but THEN Melanie Scarlet offered us two FREE last-minute second-row tickets to the Jazz game!  We're pretty good at the divide and conquer thing, so two dates emerged.  Araceli and Freestone aborted plans with friends and we all had a great evening, after dropping off Tziporah at a Polar Express Hot Chocolate Pajama Party (4yos are so cute) and picking up Ruby and friends from the airport. Glad they made it home safely from Chicago. The rest of the kids were happy to stay home watching Christmas movies after an eventful day. 

Waiting in line in the rain, after sprinting from our parking spot three blocks away so we wouldn't get too wet.

Christmas Day

The traditional photo on the stairs, awaiting the reveal of Santa's gifts.  Scott got all choked up because next year, Golda won't be here, and really there won't be another year where all 7 of our kids are kids, sitting on the stairs on Christmas morning.  I mean, Golda's already an adult.  It would be weird if they were in their 30's, living at home, sitting on the stairs on Christmas.  So this is it.  And it was a good one.

The only thing Araceli asked for is a reborn doll.  They're expensive, and hard to find.  Each one is made by an artist, so they're not usually found in stores.  Santa's elves got lucky with this one.  The artist made it specially for Araceli, and didn't charge a fortune, either.  Scott and I both told Araceli the doll wasn't happening.  Thanks to Santa, he was hiding behind her other presents.  She is in love.  Those are the Christmas moments that make it all worth it.

But it got better.  Scott is the world's best shopper, and always gets all the right stuff for everyone, so it's fun for Santa to surprise Scott.  And did he ever.

When we all went into the TV room on Christmas morning, nobody noticed that some of Ptolemy's gifts were propped up against...what is that?  Scott looked over in the corner at something Ptolemy got and said, "Ptolemy, what is that?"  Then he did a double take and said, "What IS that?"  Immediately, he glared at me, but it wasn't me!  It was Santa, who brought an iguana on his sleigh from the Florida Keys, especially for Ptolemy.  The kid was ecstatic.  All day, he kept saying, "I can't believe I got my own iguana."  Scott couldn't believe it either.  Hey, Santa is tricky. You'll have to ask Coco how Santa kept that iguana a secret until Christmas morning.  My mom is getting used to those pre-Christmas calls that start out, "So, I did something that might not be a good idea..."  In fact, I think my mom and dad started this tradition.  They once left us kids at the Crossroads mall alone for like three hours with no explanation.  Days later, on Christmas morning, we got an Irish Wolfhound puppy.  Did not see that one coming.

Meet Largo.  He's been such a fun pet.  He's observant, curious, friendly and loves to run up the stairs.  He eats fruits and vegetables, and he likes to get a shower from Ptolemy's squirt bottle.  When he's not playing, he loves to bask under his heat lamp.

We gave the four older kids money for their Hawaii trip.  They all knew they were going except Araceli, who we added later, because we just needed her there with us.  She was thrilled to discover her name on one of those pineapples.

Christmas breakfast at Coco and Bill's was this cake.  Remember this cake from the '70's?  It's whipped cream and chocolate wafer cookies, and it's one of those times that the sum is greater than the parts.  It's divine.

Superman cooked eggs and ham.

The kids played with Coco's music box collection.

Trajan gave Dad the Band of Brothers CD that is exchanged every year.  I think someone even opened it and watched it this year.

All our presents were from Paris.  Mom managed to save all her loot for several weeks, to give on Christmas.  It was wonderful!  Each treasure was wrapped in the paper from the Parisian store.  Charming.  Thanks, Mom!

Dad's gifts are always in white envelopes hanging on the tree. :)  We all joke, trying to trick each other, "Oh Dad, wow, five hundred dollars!  Thanks!"  Then the next person says, "Hey, I didn't know they made thousand dollar bills!"  and so on.  This time, I couldn't joke, Dad was so generous.  Thanks, Dad.

Bruce and Marlene came over in the afternoon to look at our Christmas.  I can't believe they were still going, after the Christmas extravaganza they had put on the night before, and having these cuties from Arizona staying at the house and family coming in and out at all times.  Bruce and Marlene are super human.  It's the only explanation.  They gave Scott and me a cooler and beach umbrella that got me excited for all our summer adventures.  Can't wait!

Sad to see these guys go back to AZ.

Kate and X

Largo looks pretty content, doesn't he?  I felt the same way at the end of Christmas Day.  It was magical and perfect.

Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's

All of our kids say Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's is the best thing ever.  Cousins, food, presents, Santa.  Actually, the food is probably torture for them, knowing that presents are coming after!  But oh boy, the dinner we had this year (and every year) was just wonderful.  Just a feast of the most delicious and traditional holiday food, cooked to perfection.  Then we played the game where Grandma reads a story and the kids pass envelopes to their left or right. Tanner ended up with the $5, while everyone else go $1.

Jake was our musical entertainment with his clarinet solo for band.  He's great!

Santa Bruce was the best Santa ever, with Coco's brand new Santa suit, acquired on clearance last year for $20.  Everyone must have a Santa suit.  Now we have two, although one is property of the DeBry Family, in case anyone wants to borrow it!

Santa and Mrs. Claus are delightful.  We love and appreciate how hard they work for Christmas, just to see the glow in each child's face and the happiness when they're all together.

New pajamas are a tradition that we all look forward to.  I think many of the kids walked away with two pairs, after visiting Grandma's store!  The feeling of being wrapped in those warm, new pajamas, surrounded by the people who love you the most in life, with Christmas in the air and Santa's sleigh on the horizon, there is just no better feeling.  The most-appreciated gift this year was Ptolemy's big, soft, red blanket.  He LOVED it!  He was just incredibly excited about it, and still loves snuggling up in it more than anything.

This is a fine bunch of people, and I'm ever grateful to be part of it.

Grandpa and the "older" girls.

I had to go back and look at my list to see why I gave Jersey a present when we didn't have her name.  I had to laugh.  I just started at the top, which was Michelle's family, (Jake) and went down to the bottom of our family, thus incorporating Jake's person in my list.  I didn't even notice we had gifts for 8 Dopp kids instead of 7, with the Kings and Bazails all mixed in.  I love the idea of being organized.  My brain doesn't do that, though, but man do I try!

As always, we ended our Christmas Eve with Coco and Bill and all of us, listening to Dad read Luke 2.  I love those familiar words and the feelings of safety and security, and pure love and contentment, that I feel each Christmas Eve.

Festivities

No matter what, Christmas turns into a blur.  My idea was to focus on just spending time with people and not worrying about anything else.  That's why there are still Christmas cards in my purse.  I got a D- on organization this year, but it doesn't matter.

Having some cousins over for gingerbread was fun.  I invited them, bought some stuff and then left to run some ridiculous errand.  When I got back, the kids were happily doing their creating under Ruby and Golda's instruction.  

It takes a village!

Another daily visit to Nana Ruby

Some violin business

And a late-night movie with the Scheullers.  This must have been the 23rd, because as we stood in the freezing air talking after the movie, the clock struck midnight and it was Sarah's birthday.  My childhood was filled with memories of Sarah's fun Christmastime birthday parties.  Her birthday is tied with the holidays in my mind forever, with ice skating, tree trimming and reindeer visiting parties to celebrate this dear friend.