christmas day.

What are your Christmas traditions? What do you do every year no matter how old you get? What does your Christmas day look like? What are the things that make Christmas so special for you?

Growing up, my brothers and I would get up super early (5:00am or a little earlier kind of early), and would meet up in my room. The rule was we couldn't go out in the living room, dining room or kitchen. We had to stay in one of our rooms until mom and dad were awake. We have a hallway between our rooms, so whoever was the first to wake up, would walk through the hallway to wake the others up.

As a little kid the anticipation of finding out what Santa brought and finding out what is in those boxes that you have had to stare at for days and weeks is huge! Funny thing is....I don't think that has changed much between now and then! ;) Anyway, once Devin, Dustin and I were up, the next task was to wake up the parents. How did we do this? Well....I have a piano in my room. We would play the piano real loud (and it wasn't a song that was played, it was just playing random keys real loud), we would sing at the top of our lungs, yell and scream, clap, knock on the walls, dance around...basically we did anything and everything that was really loud!!

Once they were awake we would all go to the boys' room (there door leads right out to the living room) and open the door and Santa's gifts and stockings were sitting in front of our presents. We would each spot out our gifts and run and get really excited at whatever was laying there from Santa. Then we would open presents from mom and dad. After presents, mom would have breakfast (mom makes a breakfast casserole each year...it's yummy!) ready! Then, almost every year everybody would go back to sleep, but me. I was always to excited to even think about going back to sleep! :)  Most years, we would eventually head to grandma moore's for the day once everyone was up and ready.

Now we are all in college and Dust is the only one left at home. Our Christmas day doesn't look quite the same, but it is still pretty close! :) This year Dust and I woke up at 6:30am....so did my parents! Dev and Kel came over at 7:00am. We opened our gifts. Mom made the breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls, and some fruit. We ate "played" with our gifts for a little bit then got ready for church. My grandma and grandpa came down for lunch....my mom went all out! We had ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, broccoli and rice casserole, and rolls. Thanks mom!! :) We spent the afternoon and evening playing games and lounging around.

Santa was very good to me this year. ;) I got a new camera, a new pair of TOMS, some really comfy and soft pajama pants...AND they have polka dots on them which makes them even better! :) I got other stuff too, but I won't list everything out. I know you probably really don't care. haha All of this to say, even though we are older, we still enjoy those Christmas traditions that make Christmas so special to me and my family.

I am blessed to be able to celebrate Jesus' birth with my awesome family! Happy birthday Jesus!!

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Here are some pictures from the day:

Jordan! :)

Dustin and Devin.

She was pretty excited about her new shoes! :)

Dad and Jordan sharing a moment! haha.

I love our Christmas tree!

We got to dog-sit for the afternoon/evening! :)

One of my favorite pics from the day! ;) We kind of did
the same thing. That was not planned!

Dad didn't want his picture taken....haha.

Me and my mom! :)

She decided she wanted to take a "silly picture".  She kept
asking, "What do I do??" haha

:)

Devin and Kelli. They are my favorite!

Sisters! :)

Chrissy and Jordan are buddies!

Dustin and Chrissy! :)

Mom took this pic. I tried cropping myself out but part of my sleeve
is still in the pic. I wanted a pic of the tree at night though! It's pretty!

Jordy and I. Of course she was sitting perfectly still until mom took
the picture. I think she was on the verge of licking my face! That or she really
didn't want her picture taken! haha.

I love my new camera!!!!

AND.....I found out one of my good friends who has been in Uganda since July, is engaged! Her boyfriend was able to go spend her last month of being in Africa with her. And he proposed!! Congrats Meghann and Clark!! So happy for you guys! :)