Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas!  We went to Grandma Neilson's home the Sunday before Christmas and had a wonderful dinner and the kids performed the Nativity.  We also sang Christmas hymns around the Christmas tree.  It was nice to take the time just before Christmas and focus on the true meaning and remember the birth of the Savior.
We spent Christmas Eve at both Grandparents home and exchanged our gifts.  Dexton got some DS games from his Grandma and Grandpa Burk and Ocianne got a Snow White doll.  At Grandma and Grandpa Neilson's Dexton got a much needed punching bag and boxing gloves.  We are hoping this will help him take his aggressions out on it instead of his little sister!  Ocianne got a swan princess castle.  They enjoyed playing with their cousins and playing games.  When we got home from the grandparents, Kevin suggested to Dex and Oci sleeping together in the same room as we did when we were kids.  Of course they were ecstatic!  I was a little weary on how this would all work out being that Santa needed to come.  They came out once and then decided they had best go to sleep or Santa would pass them by.
Kevin and I got to bed late of course, and it felt as though we had just gone to bed when I was awakened by two small children saying,  "It's Christmas!"  I noticed it was still dark.  I scrambled for the clock hoping it wasn't really time to get up.  It was 4:00AM!!!  Dexton had woken up and woke up his little sister who was dazed and confused but had decided she'd best get up too if it was Christmas! I told them they had better go back to sleep and that it was NOT time to get up!  What a mean mom I am!  A few minutes later I heard noises and got up to find Dexton climbing back in bed.  Later that morning I asked Dexton if he had sneaked downstairs to see if Santa had come and he said, "yes"!  That little stink!  I asked him if he looked at everything and he said, "yes"!   I was a little bugged.  But what can I expect.  The poor kid was sooooo excited and I had told him to go back to sleep.  How can a five year old go back to sleep wondering if Santa had come and what he had brought?
We had a wonderful Christmas morning!  The kids had a great time playing with their gifts.  Santa brought Dexton his ipod, which Mom and Dad were not sure about.  He also brought Zhu Zhu pets for both him and Oci.  Oci got an armoire with a piano which she adores!

Merry Christmas!

Karate

Dexton was finally able to pass off his T1 routine at karate and earn his yellow belt!  He has been looking forward to this for weeks.  Every week he goes he earns a tip.  Once they have earned eight tips they are then able to pass off a routine and earn a belt.  This was Dexton's first time since he began taking lesson's to pass off a routine.  He practiced for a few day's before and just before Christmas break he was able to pass it off!  I wasn't sure what he was more excited about, passing off his yellow belt or the fact Christmas was just days away!  He did great!

Video of Dexton doing his routine:



Video of Dexton receiving his yellow belt:

Merry Christmas

I hope all of you are enjoying this wonderful holiday season!  This year my heart has been full of gratitude.  I have so many wonderful blessings to be grateful for.  I have a wonderful and healthy family and they are my choicest blessings.  I try each day to look for the good in my children.  Some days are easier than others.  I feel so blessed to have them in my life and I am really trying to enjoy every day with them.  I love my husband dearly and I am so grateful for all he does to provide for our family.  He has been working very hard over the last two years to get his company off the ground.  In-spite of the economy he is prevailing and doing very well.  I know our Heavenly Father has blessed us immensely.  My testimony of the blessings of paying tithing has been enriched.  I know that when we put our trust in the Lord and do what he asks of us "all thing shall work out for thy good."  I love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas!