A Jolly Holiday

Well, I know Christmas has come and gone (it does that quicker every year, don't you think?!), but I had to post some pictures and thoughts about our Christmas this year. If I had to use three words to describe our Christmas, I would use surprise, family, and joy. Here's why:

SURPRISE: This year we surprised the kids by taking them to Utah for Christmas to see their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins!! It was the BEST! They had no idea until we drove through Amarillo and kept going. We were about 10 minutes west of Amarillo when I started to wonder if they were even going to notice. After all, we had all the presents in the back, the Sequoia was packed to the top and they hadn't thought much about it, so it wouldn't have surprised me if we had made it to New Mexico before they began to wonder where we were! But Grace was finally observant enough to say "wait...where are we going?" We asked where they thought we were going and the first guess was Lubbock, but then they figured it out. "UTAH!!" Oh, the look on their faces...Joshua's draw dropped wide open! It was such a great moment!

But wait, it gets better! We also surprised our parents and siblings...they had no idea we were coming either! It was so fun to just show up on the doorstep...and thankfully we have parents that like us enough they didn't mind a few unannounced visitors! It was so fun to go around all afternoon, showing up unexpectedly at all the different houses...causing a bit of a scene at Maceys where my sister and her husband were working. Definitely a Christmas I will never forget!!

FAMILY: It was so great to spend the holiday surrounded by so many family members. I thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas at home last year, but this year was equally as wonderful being surrounded by many, many family members! This year I just felt like we need to take these opportunities when we have them, and I am so glad we did. Here are a few pictures of our fun family moments:

Christmas eve pajamas:

Cousin Huxley and his sweet guitar:

My cute family:

Henke cousins:

Skyping with Sister Henke:

Great Grandpa Henke looking at our gift:

"Helping" Great Grandma and Grandpa Larsen open their stockings:

Playing football with the Guymon boys:

Guymon grandchildren acting out the nativity:

Our crazy angel...loving her halo!:

JOY: I think this Christmas I came to understand the word joy more fully. I learned that joy is a happiness that is deeper than happy. Joy abides even in hard times because joy comes from the Savior Jesus Christ, from His atonement for each of us. I am so grateful for my Savior and for the wonderful season of true joy that we experienced as we tried to remember Him and his life, His teachings, and His ultimate love for us!! He truly brings "joy to the world!"

Best Christmas EVER!