I love Christmas, especially Christmas Eve, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, spend extra time together as a family, and participate in some of our favorite traditions. This Christmas Eve, we started things off with a walk at the park, and then came home and spent time together. Lily and Arthur worked on a puzzle together while we watched a movie and I rested, since I was still feeling the effects of my chemo.

Later on, we played a game together as a family, and I broke out the emazing charcuterie box I received from one of my students. Yum!

At dinner time, Lily had to ditch us for a bit so she could spend time with her boyfriend, Chris’s family. She was able to meet some more of his relatives and have a wonderful Christmas dinner with them. WHen she got back, we jumped right back into our traditional Christmas Eve activities with reading Luke 2 and Matthew 2 of the story of Christ’s birth. We had been leading up to it all month as we had been reading special scriptures about Him each day.

Then it was time to open their Christmas Eve gift of new PJ’s, which they loved. Derek was especially excited about his Legend of Zelda pajama pants, even if they didn’t come with a shirt.

Once everyone was cozt in their pj’s, we watched the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert on PBS, which was lovely.

Because we had to wait a bit longer to start, I was feeling especially beat, and so Lily was awesome enough to help out bringing down all the presents, while Kevin did dishes and I prepped breakfast for Christmas morning. And then Kevin helped me get the stockings set out and ready. It all looked magical and perfect for the next morning.

On Christmas morning, I was up way too early, but it allowed me to get breakfast in the oven before the kids came down. I love watching them open their stockings and the true joy they find in every little thing, whether it is new socks, deoderant, candy, or a fun toy.

Once the stockings were emptied, we had our delicious caramel roll breakfast – yum!! Arthur also finished the last of our advent calendars, and then he and Derek played with the new giant container of Legos we had for them.

Soon, we were all dressed and ready, and so we called my mom on Facetime so that she could join us in opening presents, since she was home alone. She took her turn in the rotation, which meant that I wasn’t the oldest person represented – ha ha! Everyone loved their gifts, and it makes me so happy to see how grateful they are for each one.

The funniest thing was when we had a gift that Kevin organized some trickery with. The original box was wrapped and labeled to Arthur. Inside of that box was another wrapped box, this one labeled to Lily, and then to Derek next, and then to me. Inside the one I opened, were three small wrapped presents to each of the kids. And each of those were actually a puzzle box thing, and when they solved it, they found cash from Grandma Valeria and Grandpa Dennis inside. (I had found the cool 3D puzzle thing a while back, and thought they would be super fun to hide the grandparent cash inside. And then Kevin got the boxes idea from one of his seminary students – so fun!)

My final present had been hidden – Kevin gave me a battle ax for being a warrior and fighting my cancer. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry – it was the best. But the battle ax was just his creative wrapping job, as the real present it was hiding was a new Apple watch, since mine was sadly dying. I was very spoiled.

Because Lily was gone on Christmas Eve with Chris’s family, we had our fancy Christmas dinner on Christmas day. We had ham, chantilly potatoes, finger jello, and I even used my brand new Pioneer Woman cookbook to make yummy biscuits.

We had Chris come over to join us, and he was super sweet and brought each of us presents. Then he and Lily worked on trying to finish a puzzle she and Arthur had started.

Then it was time for dinner – so yummy!! It was Chris’s first time having a Christmas cracker, which was fun. Kevin and I were the only ones to actually wear our crowns during dinner though – ha ha!

It was such a gorgeous day, that after dinner, when Lily and Chris said they were going to go out for a walk, we all decided to do the same. Derek and Arthur hung out at the playground, and I got some much needed movement and sunshine before I crashed again.

And yes, being not even a week off of my chemo treatment, this Christmas was a bit different, but it all came together. We got to do all the important things together, and everyone chipped in to pick up my slack and help out. We spent the rest of Christmas day hanging out together, eating leftovers, watching Christmas movies, and just being together. Sounds perfect to me.