Christmas Day, 2010

7:00 a.m. (Are we lucky or what?) Before things got crazy Christmas morning, we watched a segment of, "Joy to the World: The First Christmas," and had family prayer. I love the Briner tradition of opening one gift at a time, youngest to oldest. I get to watch every reaction. The kids are pretty darn grateful. I love that they each get to be the center of attention when it's their turn. And I love watching the kids get excited for each other.

They each get 3 gifts (like Jesus did :). There are a few reasons for this: we try to keep a lid on expectations and entitlement, I'd rather give them a few quality gifts than a dozen throw-aways, and I try to take the word "simplify" to heart. But, let's face it. We can get away with this more minimalistic approach because Grandma goes hog wild.

Elle in her Lil' Red Riding Hood cape. Irresistible.
Santa gift: XBox 360 with Kinect. Cy and Getty are pumped and heading straight to the game room.
Criss Cross Crash. I woke up the morning after Christmas to championship noise-level cheering and screaming. A race track with guaranteed crash scenarios? Boy howdy! Elle was right in there jumping up and down with her big brothers.
After opening presents, we snacked on big muffins and nog before we headed to Grandma's for the real deal brunch and 19 gifts each.

That's what I said.
We all watched "Luke II" at Grandma's, per tradition, before wrapping paper started flying.
Grandma came home Christmas Eve from the hospital with a feeding tube but was readmitted on Christmas with complications of her surgery. Hope that does not become tradition...
Elle's lovin' her new Dora doll.
Home for a couple of hours, we sorted through the 150(!) presents.
The Booty.

Getty's diggin' Great-grandpa's education fund $ donation in that envelope.


Off to Granny's house then for more gifts and Christmas ham.
Granny gave Rob a BYU hat and t-shirt—something I've wanted to see him in for years. I think I'm in love...

Normally, the Sunday after Christmas we have a traditional English Christmas Dinner at Grandma's, including roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and Christmas "crackers." This year, since Grandma is recovering from cancer surgery and gearing up for chemotherapy, Christmas dinner with the Evans-side was at our house (minus the English charm). No photos—I guess I was just too busy chattin' it up.

It's a wonderful life.