This year, like the last 4 years, we stayed in Texas to celebrate. My sister and her family came down and my brother and his wife live here. Seiuli was actually off work for Christmas Eve and day for the 1st time in 4 years. He was scheduled to work, but was able to get both days off. He worked Thanksgiving (and like I said, Christmases for the past 4 years…) so I think it was time he had this special weekend off.

Earlier in the Christmas break we took the whole family (courtesy of my in-laws and bro-in-law) to Six Flags: Holiday in the Park. It was Liv’s first time to go and OMGosh!!! This will definitely be a new Christmas break tradition in our household. She LOVED IT! The entire family (+ my lil sister, Ali) had a wonderful time. It wasn’t too cold. The lines weren’t too long and the decor was so festive. It was just a super amazing time.

In my family our tradition is to open up gifts at my parent’s home on Christmas Eve. Yes- ALL gifts… not just pajamas. So we decided to open the gifts in our home a few days early since one of the gifts was a Wii and my sister was giving the kids more Wii games… Also, our 3 oldest had to go to the ex’s on the 26th, so we wanted them to have a chance to enjoy their gifts a few days. Every year before opening gifts the kids and Sei and I watch “The Nativity” with Amy Grant’s “Breath of Heaven” playing. It really brings the Spirit of Christmas into our home. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icilgwdHiZg

Then… we opened our gifts!!!!

Alec and I were there too, but there seems to be no photographic evidence of attendance…

To be continued…