Merry Christmas!

For the first time in many years, we were able to celebrate Christmas with Sue and Jerry - thanks to Sue getting a kidney and finally being able to travel.  We had our traditional family get together on Christmas Eve (minus Brandon serving his mission in Colombia and Bryant who had to work).  

Bryant surprised us by getting off early enough to catch the tail end of dinner.  We were so excited, especially since he is planning on being on his mission the next 2 years and won't be with us.

Before exchanging gifts, Rick led a spiritual discussion about the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The kids were all excited about their Christmas pajamas - Grandma and Grandpa must be looking sad because they didn't get any pjs ;)

After everyone had worn themselves out and the other Chases had gone home, "Santa" visited our home and I got to sit and enjoy the quiet Christmas-filled house.  It's one of my favorite things to do on Christmas Eve.

With our kids being older, we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn.  This year, we headed downstairs at 9:00am - not bad!

After all the presents had been opened, we cleaned up and then headed to the Rock's house to exchange a few gifts.  Linda's mom designed a hand and foot logo for us (with one of our favorite sayings - "that's like a thousand points worth of 3's!").  Linda used the design to make us custom t-shirts, and her step dad made an awesome box to hold our necessities for the game.  What a cool adopted mom I have! (thanks Linda for sharing her with me)

Rick received bacon playing cards from the Rocks. "That's too much bacon....said no one....EVER!"  Our hand and foot nights will never be the same!

Our traditional trip to the movies didn't work out this year.  The movie we chose, Saving Mr. Banks, sold out right before our turn to buy tickets.  Plan B was to go back to the Rocks, eat yummy food, and play hand and foot (of course).  As a bonus, we were able to listen to Nathan as he skyped with his family and then we got to talk to him too.  He is doing so well in the mission in the Philippines.