The Best Christmas Ever!

 This Christmas has been really wonderful. I suppose it is possible that it will be topped someday. But this will always rank high in the list of Best Christmases Ever. The biggest reason is that everyone was here!

On Saturday, Dec 20th, Stephen and Ashleigh flew into Spokane where I picked them up, Annie, Ryan, and Naomi drove from Grandpa Mobley's house where they had spent the night, and Ellen came over from her apartment. We all got to our Virginia Ave home within about 30 minutes of each other. 

 After everyone got their stuff inside and ate some lunch, all the guys headed up to the mountain to clear fallen trees from a few trails. Mild Dog, Wild Dog, and Hairline trails. They cleared at least half a dozen trees that had fallen in a crazy windstorm just a few days earlier in the week. Stephen was able to teach Noah some chainsaw skills that will help him with firefighting this summer. James says it was one of the best experiences of his life, to be up on the mountain doing manly things with his 4 boys.

We hadn't come close to filling up our Thankful Door this year, so it was really nice to have everyone there to add to it.

On Sunday after church, we all headed out to the woods to get our Christmas tree! We went out to  Boulder Creek, very close to the place we usually go. We just took a left at the last fork in the road instead of a right. We wandered around for a bit and found the perfect tree! Steve cut it down and Naomi licked it, as is tradition. 

We came home and decorated! I really do think this is one of the better trees we have ever found. Nice and full and beautiful! Except the backside was totally bare. Which turned out to be awesome because then we could just push it up against the wall and it didn't take up quite so much space in the living room and it still looked big and beautiful. 

That evening James, Ryan, and Ashleigh made stuffed jalapeños.

Between Sunday and Christmas Day we did a lot of baking, played all kinds of games, did a fun pirate puzzle, had a few wrestling matches, and just enjoyed being together.

Christmas Day was wonderful. Some people, Naomi and Spencer, were up very early then fell asleep again. But we all got up about 7 to look at stockings and start opening presents. The very best present of all was addressed to Mom and Dad from Santa. There was some debate about who exactly "Santa" was, but no one claimed to be him, so I started opening the present. Before I got it all the way open, I saw that it was a package of pacifiers. My first thought was that it was actually meant to go to Annie and Ryan, but finally Stephen spoke up and said that it was meant for us and that Ashleigh is also pregnant!!!! I don't know how they were able to keep it quiet all week, but it was a wonderful surprise. Their baby is due sometime in August.

Merry Christmas from all of us!