Christmastime

 

Happy Christmas, Harry!

I watched Harry Potter 7 part 2 twice this Christmas (thanks, awesome husband!) and I like how the British say Happy Christmas -- it's fun. Anyways, wow, I can't believe that Christmas has come and gone -- and now we've entered the new year!! I've been a little MIA, but there has been a very good reason for the absence (Reagan, duh).  Well, it's time for an update!

 Life in the Burr home has been as crazy as ever. Once finals week ended (THANK GOODNESS) we were able to finally take a breather and celebrate the Christmas festivities with our families. Here's what we did during our Pre-Christmas week. On Monday (the 19th) we went to the Festival of Lights (just me, Brooks, and Reagan) and had a grand 'ol time. We kept telling Reagan to look at the lights, but she slept the whole time, naturally. Unless she's hungry, the moment Reagan is put into the car, she falls asleep...seriously. Our car is a sleep machine for this little babe. Anyways, it was really nice to just have a little family date. We loved it, and it was a good kick-off to the rest of the week's celebrations.

On Wednesday (the 21st) Brooks' sister Bethany and her boyfriend, Aaron, flew in for Christmas. It was so fun to be with them. If we weren't with my family or at a party, you could find us at the Burr's house playing Balderdash. We probably did about 40 rounds collectively. That game is a riot if you have fun people to play with.

 Playing games --- yep. That's a hooter hider that I basically never took off the whole break. There is a reason my baby is 12 lbs. She's a porker.

Grandpa Burr with his favorite granddaughter

On Friday (the 23rd) we did 'Christmas Jobs' to earn money. This is a tradition that Brooks' parents started when their kids were young. They all do specific chores throughout the house which earns them money to buy Christmas presents for their siblings. It's such a great idea that we can't wait to do with our kids. After the jobs, we packed up Reagan for her 'Coming Out Parties'. Basically we had yet to take her anywhere because she was too little and susceptible to germs (still is, but I'll be worried about that til she's 50) so we dubbed Friday her 'Coming Out' day, where our extended families were finally going to meet her. It was so fun! We first stopped at Brooks' Grandma Hazel's Christmas Family Home Evening. It was so adorably decorated! Grandma Hazel put so much time and effort into the party, and the food was delicious. We stayed for an hour, then headed out to the farm for the Sainsbury Christmas party. OH BOY. It gets bigger every year. I have 12 aunts and uncles, and 48 cousins - 25 of which are married (which brings the cousin+spouses count to 73), and 20 of them have kids..which means a LOT of kids. It is a mad house, but it is a mad house full of love, laughter, and Christmas cheer. I know that this party will have to come to an end someday (because of the fact that nobody's house will be able to continue holding the 100+ that can make it to the party) but I hope that day won't come for a long, long time.

Reagan did great at both parties, and Brooks and I agreed that her Coming Out day was a complete success.

On Christmas Eve, we woke up, did a little shopping for Reagan, and then went to Brooks' parent's house for Christmas Brunch with his family and his uncle's family. It was so fun! I haven't met a lot of Papa Burr's side of the family, so it was great to finally meet some of Brooks cousins. After brunch, we played a little Buzz Word and Balderdash, then headed up to my parent's house for Christmas Eve festivities. Since our parents both live so close to one another, we decided to switch off who we spend Christmas Eve/Morning with every year, so this was the Sainsbury year. We had a great time! We ate a delicious meal, then played games and opened our pajamas from the elves. There was a pretty funny moment when I opened my 'elves' pajamas...I asked Brooks for big pants; ya know, the loungy kind that are big and comfy. Well he really took that request to heart. He got me some Old Navy pants that were HUGE! When I held up the pants in front of everyone, it got a big laugh -- and my mom came right out and said, "Woooooow, those are humongous!". I have a big behind, always have, but these pants could fit four of my behinds in them. Even though they're massive, I love them because they are mighty comfortable!!All the neices and nephews were hilarious in their little costumes that my mom has made (she has worked tirelessly for several months on all of these! Amazing momma!).


This is my two-year-old niece, Chloe, doing the "Hey You Guyys" from Goonies

This is hilarious. They are rough and tumble boys, through and through

Cute Kiddos!

When everyone left, Brooks and Mckay played video games and I took a luxurious bath while my mom watched Reagan. It was the best Christmas present she could have given me. After the bath, we all watched It's a Wonderful Life, a Christmas Eve tradition. Everyone went to bed around 1:00am, and I stayed up with Reagan til 2, then she slept until 8 (a good six hours!). We all enjoyed a lovely Christmas morning with McKay and my parents. Mom made waffles, and everyone let me blast my old High School choir Christmas CD. It was awesome. After breakfast and presents, we got ready and went to church where my mom, sister, and I sang in Sacrament meeting. Thankfully we didn't mess up too bad. Afterwards we went to Brooks' family's sacrament meeting, then went to his house for more present opening fun. Later on, Brooks' mom put together an AMAZING Christmas feast. Seriously, she put so much effort into that wonderful meal -- I am still thinking about the rolls and the Honeybaked Ham..yumm. After dinner, we played games deep into the night.

 Precious Reagan in her Christmas Dress

 Love this shirt that Bethany and Aaron gave Brooks. Ow, ow, hubba hubba.

It was such a fun Christmas. I felt the Spirit witness to me over and over about the truthfulness of the Gospel. I am so grateful for my Savior. He has been there for me through every good and bad moment of my life, and especially during the last 7 weeks since Reagan was born. Both Brooks and I feel so blessed and grateful --  not only for the gifts we received from our families this season, but also for the ultimate sacrifice Christ made so that we could be together for eternity. When I look down at my sweet baby girl while she sleeps, I am so grateful that she is sealed to us, and that she will be our daughter in this life, and the next.

 Reagan  (7 weeks)