Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas season at the Applehans' home. We were blessed to be visited by all of our families, had 4 Christmas celebrations, had opportunity to share Christmas with others, participate in many traditions brought from both Jesse's and my families, but most importantly, reflect on the birth, life, and gift of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Here are a few highlights, in no particular order:

Dad and Elaine were able to come up the middle of December and visit for the weekend, along with all the girls in the family (we sure missed Kevin, Amy, and Chloe!). Their visit occured during our Stake's Creche Show. It was simply amazing. There were hundreds of navitities on display, a Children's Room where the kids got to create some art projects and play with children's nativity sets, and a room set up for taking pictures such as the one below. We thoroughly enjoyed their visit and the boys loved playing with Puck (their little dog). We played many games of Wacky Six and ate lots of good food!

The day after Christmas, we were blessed have Jesse's parents come for a visit. We had the privledge of having them here for 10 days, during which time we accomplished a lot of eating, game playing, finishing projects around the house, shopping, and playing with the boys. We also celebrated Jesse's collage graduation! Tanner loved getting reacquainted with "Bub" (Grandpa) and getting spoiled by Grandma. Andrew thought Grandpa's mustache was really great and tried creating one of his own with sticky white paper. He also enjoyed going into Gma and Gpa's room each morning to cuddle. We sure wish they lived closer because we don't get to see them often enough!

One evening, we went to Lewiston to walk through the park with an amazing Christmas light display:

Our own little family's traditions this year included baking and decorating sugar cookies, making a gingerbread house, sharing Christmas with others in need, driving around looking at Christmas lights, cutting down a live Christmas tree, and spending as much time together as possible. We also enjoyed writing letters to Santa, reading a new Christmas story together, telling THE Christmas story, and having Daddy off work Christmas Eve for the first time since starting his career. Jess and I both ended up with a horrible 24 hour stomach flu about 9pm Christmas Eve. Go figure. We still loved our time together (even if it included several trips to the restroom).

Just a couple days before Christmas, my Mom and some of my sisters were able to come down and celebrate an early Christmas with us. We had a lovely Christmas dinner, played games, talked and talked (us girls do that quite well), decorated cookies, and worked on Amy's recipe scrapbook. The boys love visits from their "special Bonner's Ferry Grandma" and Aunts.

Well, I guess that's it in a nutshell. Now we're on to 2010 already! I just can't believe how quickly time passes. We have so much to be grateful for and count our blessings everyday for Jesse's job, a nice warm home, a graduated husband (woo-hoo, finally!) our wonderful families, good friends, the gospel, our Savior, our special little boys, and most certainly each other. We're looking forward to all the happiness this year will bring!