A Festivous for the rest of us!

Well this was our first Christmas with no extended family to celebrate with. It was hard to be away from all the fun family festivities we we managed to make our little family Christmas special anyway. I must admit it is very hard to get in the Christmas spirit in Hawaii. It is hard to see sand and envision snow. At least in Texas, although we never had a white Christmas, there was always a little nip in the air and you could at least throw on a sweater. This year we spent Christmas in our bathing suits. We opened presents and headed to the pool. We started Christmas a few days early since Ben is leaving soon we did not want that looming over us while we were trying to have fun. So Thursday we cooked our traditional spaghetti Christmas Eve dinner and after opened all our gifts. The kids had a blast and did not know what to play with first. In fact we had to stop unwrapping every once and a while so they could try out their latest toy. I think the girls favorite was their Karioke machine, and Corben was partial to his motorcycle, (and the girls lip gloss). He has a strong and sensitive side. Growing up with all these girls in the house who could expect any less.
Friday we spent the day at the pool, had a BBQ rib dinner then snuggled in with the kids and watched Polar Express, with some hot coco. The next morning we did Santa gifts and stockings. This year Addison started questioning if Santa was real so after watching Polar Express that night we left her a note from Santa and it included a bell from his slay that she could ring to see if she still believed. Of course we all heard the chimes and she was so excited to tell her friend that didn't believe because she now had proof that he was real. It was so sweet to see the excitement in her eyes! After presents we spent another afternoon at the pool, followed by a big ham dinner, and then an all out Mario Party 7 marithon! All and all I would rate this Christmas a success,and look forward to next year when we can deck the halls, and wish Jesus another Happy Birthday!