Ok I've missed some stuff

First of all, Merry Christmas!! Yesterday was Christmas and it was wonderful day despite any financial problems. It was more fun to watch the kids open their presents and see how excited they got.

Next, our new ward had a very fun Christmas party and we moved just in time to attend. The title was Christmas in Samoa. They had Samoan dancers and an actual barbecued pig. We have a family that moved into our ward that are Samoan and they are so nice and they were kind enough to talk about Samoan culture and how they celebrate Christmas. After the Samoan dancers, a special guest showed up, yep Santa! Patrick was so excited so we quickly got in line.Patrick loved talking to Santa and posed for a picture perfect snap shot from Jesús' phone. Then it was Elena's turn. As soon as we got about 5 feet from him she started screaming and squirming to get away from him. She actually grabbed for a total stranger just to get away.

Yes I'm laughing. I know, bad mom. I thought it was hilarious and I couldnt help myself. I got her away quickly though and she was fine in a few minutes.

The next day our old ward was having a Christmas party too and we really wanted to go that because it was all about the Polar Express. It was in the morning and there was going to be breakfast so we crashed it. There was no Santa, I think Elena was relieved, but conductor Dan red the story of the Polar Express and everyone got jingle bells. We got a photo in the conductors chair and the kids were not very cooperative. So then Christmas eve was sort of sad because it was only us and my parents and Sara. It was great to spend that special evening with them but our traditional Christmas eve program was rather pathetic but Mom pulled it off by bringing out the bells by number to play a song or two and she and Sara whipped up a piano duet with no practice that was a lot of fun. Then Jesús and I made some cookies for Santa.Elena was having her own little crazy party

Sara, Patrick and I hung out under Moms tree

Christmas morning we woke up early for some reason and the kids werent awake yet so we laid in bed for a while and after about 30 minutes we couldnt wait any more so we got them up ourselves. I went into Patricks room and he was dead asleep but he woke up from the sound of the door. He looked at me slowly and rolled over to go back to sleep then I asked him if Santa had come. He looked at me so fast and said, "oh yeah, where?" I said "under the tree!" we followed him slowly down the hall and he stood there and looked at the tree. "Nope" then he looked back "wait, yes. He brought me a bike! Santa brought me a bicycle!!" It was the funniest thing. He went over to look at it and said "Its too big for me but let me check" he climbed on and started pedaling and got the hang of it immediately. He was so happy. Then we pulled his stocking down for him look in it. He loved his spiderman toothbrush. As we started opening presents he kept saying "Be patient, be patient. Dont tell me what it is!!" We were laughing the whole time. Then we went over to my Mom and Dads to open presents with them. Elena just wanted to eat chocolate from the stockings but had fun ripping the paper off her presents. The toys she loved and clothes she tossed over her shoulder.

Good times opening presents

Pushing Hannah around on the Hand truck

Jesús and Stephanie putting together the marble thing-a-ma-jig

Everyone playing with the marble thing-a-ma-jig

Moms beautiful Christmas morning set up

Here is Elena in one of her new cute outfits and Grandmas necklace, isn't she adorable??!!!!