Ford-ology: home for the holidays. part i

I am so excited to tell you all about our lovely holiday.

Christmas TWENTY-TWELVE, hands down, was one of my favorite holiday celebrations ever!

Before jetting off to Sacramento for our 10 day holiday away, we were able to spend Saturday with some of our family here in Utah.

Wet spent the afternoon with my Aunt Patty & Uncle Brian and their family including, my dearest bestest friend who also happens to be my cousin, JESSICA and her handsome husband Colin who were in town from Texas. We haven't seen them since they moved back in July and we were so glad we got to spend a few hours with them.

Cassidie & Preston were parting with us also.

Saturday night we spent a few hours with Kevin's parents who flew in from Washington.

We were glad we got to see them and that Hunter was able to see all his grandparents his first Christmas.

We got so many great gifts form Mom & Dad Ford.

They totally spoiled us.

Sunday Morning we were off to Sacramento.

(Fun fact: this trip put Hunter's flight total to over 10 planes in the last 3 months... world class flyer status)

There is nothing like going home for the holidays and I was so excited to be back home with my family this year.

Sunday we arrived and went directly from the airport to Uncle Russ & Aunt Catherine's for a family dinner and "Greatest memory of Grandma Goold" story time that left everyone laughing hysterically. Great way to start the holiday.

Monday, Christmas Eve, was full of final preparations for the magical day ahead. Last minute food, gifts, and clothes shopping filled most of the day, but McKenna and I were able to sneak out for a bit to get our nails done. That was lovely and much needed.

We went and looked at Christmas lights, came home and got into our Christmas pajamas (one of my favorite traditions) and started some of the food for Christmas day.

Hunter loved his new pj's and looked so cute!

As a first time mom this holiday I experienced something more magical then I could have ever dreamed.

Since I was little, Christmas was always the most magical time of the year. My parents always did everything in their power to make the holiday unforgettable. From matching pajamas, to delicious food, to eye catching Christmas tree's, and stuffed stockings and presents piling high there was always something to make our little eyes get so big. Making magic for five kids seemed to be my parents specialty. Along with all of the fun around the home at Christmas my parents always taught us it went deeper then the sparkling lights and toys. I remember years of secret Santa doorbell ditching, leaving a beautiful Christmas snow globe on the porch of the lonely old lady down the road. Going out Christmas caroling and watching the faces of the people we sang to light up as our family on key or not, belted out our family holiday tunes. I remember sitting around the tree as a family on Christmas eve or Christmas morning reading the beloved stories, The Night Before Christmas or of Jesus' birth in Luke 2.

As family members began to wander off to bed, to let visions of sugar plums dance in their head, mom and I stayed up wrapping those last few presents, overfilling the stockings, organizing the gifts, and hiding the Christmas pickle. As I rounded the corner to take some final gifts to the tree; I was completely overcome with a feeling of love and happiness as I looked at the magic that was right before my eyes.

For some reason, this year, our beautiful Christmas tree stood taller then I'd remembered. The lights glimmered brighter and the room seemed to fill with a warmth that invited me in.

I stood there and reflected back on all of the amazing Christmas' I had in this home and felt so blessed that I was here, with my son, for his first Christmas.

I hoped that I could give him the kinds of memories my parents made for me and my siblings.

It was clear this was to be the most magical Christmas ever.

Christmas morning was wonderful.

It was the first time in our family history (minus the years the married couples weren't home) that the siblings didn't all sleep in the same room. I was a little heartbroken at this ended tradition but grateful we all got a goods night rest. Looks like we will have to re-start the tradition down the road with the grand kids.

Dad read Luke 2, we went through our stockings and then the unwrapping began.

In our family we open the gifts one at a time.

Yes, this takes longer but it's so fun to watch everyone open their gifts and see how happy they are when they discover what it is.

Everyone was spoiled with gifts this year.

I loved the pots and pan set that Kevin and I got from my parents.

Hunter was spoiled with tons of toys that he hasn't stopped playing with.