Dreaming of a White Christmas




This was as white as our Christmas got!



...and that's all it was, just dreaming of a white Christmas. You'd think with living in Virginia that we'd have snow out here by now, but unfortunately we didn't get it for Christmas. It is, however feeling super cold! It's kind of like a stinging cold, the kind of cold that reaches your bones. Being the California girl I am, I'm still walking around in flip flops or flats and wearing thin sweaters. At least it's always warm inside everywhere we go, but I still think this calls for a new wardrobe!




Good morning!



     This Christmas was a fun one, it was definitely different, but fun non the less. In a way it didn't feel much like Christmas because we weren't surrounded by our family like we usually are. It did feel a bit lonely at times but at the same time it was a very intimate Christmas spent with the loves of my life; Chris, Lincoln, and Ella. As long as we're together I couldn't be happier. We had a special night together on Christmas Eve. We read about our Savior, told stories, had dinner together and just enjoyed being with one another. Once the kids we're in bed, Chris and I snuggled on the couch watching a movie and drinking hot cocoa. It was such a relaxing, peaceful night.
     Christmas morning we got up and took Lincoln down stairs to open his gifts! It was so fun watching him open them up. When I told him to grab a present under the tree, he went over and picked off an ornament instead! When he finally got the hang of opening gifts it was the cutest thing. He would start unwrapping a present and once he saw what was inside he'd gasp and say "Ohh.." every now and then he would let out one of his crazy, excited laughs. It was so fun to watch. Our cute little Ella Bella got some pretty dolls from her Great-Grandma Hill. She loved them, there's drool all over them to prove it! She was so sweet the whole time, she was just calmly sitting in her Bumbo seat while her brother was running around in his hyper active mode. Lincoln would bring a toy over to Ella and play with her, or try to put it in her mouth! We played around for a while but it was a very stimulating morning for our little ones, so it was time for a nap before we left for church.
     We had a very beautiful Sacrament meeting that day at church. We got to hear some lovely musical numbers from our ward choir and from the children in primary. After church we went over to Kristin and Carlos' house for dinner (Kristin is Chris' cousin). It was so nice of them to have us over, along with their close friends "Mimi and Poppy" who she says adopted them. It felt like a piece of home again just being around such kind, happy people. Both families gave Lincoln and Ella a Christmas gift which I thought was just the sweetest thing! Lincoln had such a fun time playing with there little girls and not to mention the food was amazing! (I'm craving some more right now!) After spending some time with them, we rushed home to Skype with Chris' family before we put the kids to bed. It was great getting to talk to his family and seeing them again but it sure did make me feel home sick. Later that night I received a video message from my family wishing us a Merry Christmas, and that made me even more home sick.