Christmas 2021

We have so much to be greatful for this Christmas season - starting with friends and family. We got to visit Grandma Sue and the Saylers earlier in the month. Then we got to enjoy a delicious dinner with Grandpa Sonny and Marcie at a casino and both the kiddos behaved very well (probably because the lights were so entrancing:). We went to a fun cookie and dinner party at the McCrackens where the entire ward and then a few more somehow squeezed into their welcoming corridors. We saw some of the lighted trucks but because of a police incident they did not come down our street. And when we jumped in the car to chase them down, we didn't do a very good job LOL but had a great adventure anyway. 

We love getting cards from friends near and far every year and this year Charlotte spent a good amount of her evenings analyzing the cards for people she knew and words she could sound out. 

Just a random funny one of the manger scene set up by one of the kids. Not sure why the baby is being shunned or the hay bale is in a tree but it's all good. 

We got to spend a few days during the break at a cabin with the Ritchies and the Reiersens. It's so generous of them to invite us for all the fun. This year we did puzzles, played in the DEEP snow, went sledding, and enjoyed the hot tub. Clark loved having boy time with Mason, Jake and Chase. Charlotte and Hailey ran around like sillies and we all got to snuggle new baby Sydney. 

We got to hang with Aunt Linda, Uncle Bill and all of their kids for a few hours and then Matt and Kristen stopped by for some cousin time and gift opening. Charlotte now has a shiny ABC magnet set, some seriously soft Elsa PJS and Clark...

...what can I say? His Uncle spoils him. This fancy new basketball shot game is already the favorite and the noise we hear every night for hours:) 

But as good as it is to see fam and friends, at the end of the day, the Gailans just like to hang as a fam. Christmas Eve was maybe my favorite so far. We borrow an idea from the Grows and did our first annual Shepherd's dinner, where we had simple foods that the Shepherd's might have eaten the night the angel visited them. We ate it on the ground, next to the twinkling of the Christmas tree, and watched The Christ Child and tried to imagine what it would have been like to be there that special night long ago. 

After dinner, we got in our jammies and drove over to the Tree's light show singing Christmas carols along the way. Truly magical! 

Clark left out some cookies for Santa with a note to get milk from the fridge (cause warm milk is not sanitary). Santa was sure to thank him the next morning. 

With the kiddos in bed, Santa set out to tuck all the presents away in their spots. 

The next morning - MADNESS! 7AM on the dot, both kiddos came screaming in that Santa had indeed delivered presents. 

Mr. Clark was thrilled to get so many books and legos and a shooty ball gun. Miss Char got a microphone that can make her sound like a chipmunk or an evil villain and everything in between. 

And, oh yes, we got him the Switch. You know - the one he's been begging for since the summer. Yes, that one. Did he like it? I think his face speaks for itself. 

We spent the day playing games, finishing lego sets, making and remaking baby Yoda pancakes and just being together.

Merry Christmas from our little clan.