How the Shirley's do Christmas

 Christmas 2012

Our Bethlehem Supper on Christmas Eve was shared with the Elders and Sister Missionaries serving in our ward along with another wonderful family who all graciously endured our simple yet special tradition.
I could kick myself I didn't photograph any people but that just means I was spending too
much time enjoying the moment, which isn't a bad thing.
Just picture lots of happy guests smiling with full tummies and feeling the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Jammies!

Creed was pretty content with his pile of goodies especially his Hedwig Owl from Santa

Mack our reader mostly got books, but couldn't have been happier.
The entire set of Harry Potter books was an unexpected miracle for him
 (MOM caved, surprise surprise)
 and he is already starting #6.
I however, am still on #3.

I love that I still know my boys and what makes them happy, {for now} and Cal is no exception

these super hero masks from their cousins were a big hit. It took all of a mili-second for  them to claim the one they wanted and know exactly which pose to strike.

Macks Harry Potter lego sets were pretty unchallenging and set up quickly, but he didn't care it just meant he could get back to reading.
                                  

                                     

                                              Over the years Cam and I have noticed how excessive and out of control 

                                                Christmas shopping for our kids can become and we figured this year 

                                                               being that we are slightly limited in what we can get 

                                                    was the perfect year to start our scale back process  a "little."

                                                   I say a "little" because they still got more then plenty but 

                                                                                     we are taking baby steps. 

                                                                                      Its a hard habit to break.Our first experiment was to have each brother give one gift to the other two, instead of individually.

and then they were supposed to make something handmade for each other in place of the store bought gift.

Well...

that went over like a ton of bricks. 

For days I heard cries from Callan, about how he doesn't know how to make anything he 

was too little, Mack sort of pretended he never heard me talking and then justified his actions by

reminding me about him buying his brothers toys

 from the school flee market with his hard earned money was the same as hand made. 

Since he earned the money with his hard working hands. 

hmmm....

Albeit thoughtful and sweet not quite what I had in mind--the master debater that one.

And bless his little heart Creed spent Christmas eve morning making a picture out of 

toothpicks and tin foil to represent Callans favorite bike. 

To which Callan opened it and threw it down and said 

this is useless!!  

{Stellar, eh?}

Cue once proud Creed shrieking like a violet and trying hard not to cry.

Merry Christmas everyone!? 

EPIC FAIL!

Luckily everyone has kind of blocked out those moments
And remembers a happy joyful Christmas.
Except for me of course. 
Oh the heartache sometimes of being the Mom.