The Robles

Christmas was great! We loved it but because I don't want to write everything again, i'll just copy and paste from my journal and post some pics. Happy Holidays everyone!

"We had the most wonderful Christmas! It was really great just being with our little family. It was less hectic and calmer but still exciting and fun. We were able to just focus on family traditions we want to establish in our family instead of going back and forth between families. We could take things at our own pace. On Christmas Eve we had a relaxing morning. We ate a nice breakfast together and then Benny and Ephraim helped shovel our neighbors’ driveways with Nathan while Asher and I did a little shopping for our shepherds’ meal and then I came home and made gingerbread dough. Next, we all went sledding and the boys had a great time. It was so fun seeing them laugh and enjoy themselves. Even Asher loved it. He went solo down the hill in fact. We just laid him on his back on the sled and let him go. He wasn’t scared or anything. Then we came back home and the boys watched a short BBC nature video while I made the gingerbread cookies and prepared our shepherds’ meal. We spread out a blanket and dressed up like shepherds in sheets and pillow cases. The boys loved it. I told stories about how I had fought off a wolf and lion to protect my sheep and tried to just have sheep talk in general. Benny was a shepherd at first but decided it would be a lot more fun to be a sheep. Ephraim was a sheep from the beginning and Asher was just excited that the food was on the floor at his level. Then I got a white sheet and pretended I was an angel declaring good tidings of great joy about the Christ child. Then Nathan took the boys “traveling” (to the kitchen and back) to see the baby Jesus. I snatched Asher up and positioned myself to be Mary holding the baby Jesus (Asher) and Nathan and the boys came and knelt pretending to worship Jesus. It was so much fun. I love that tradition of the Shepherds’ meal. Afterwards we got in the car and went Christmas light looking. Ephraim was so excited and pointed out every house that had lights, no matter how few. Our last stop was the nativity scene at the temple. When we got home, we told the boys that peek-a-boo snowman had left them a gift under the tree. Also, Kassie and Jared had left each of the boys a gift too at our door step. So they got to open two presents that night. Our gifts were Christmas pajamas to sleep in that night and Kassie and Jared had gotten them some cool Spiderman shirts and underwear. The boys were very excited. After we put them to bed, Nathan and I got to work wrapping their gifts and stuffing their stockings. It was fun just being together and preparing for Christmas, like a date. We ended the night by drinking a glass of sparkling cider together and talking about how excited we were to watch the boys open presents. It was truly a wonderful and magical day together as a family.

Christmas morning started with Benny coming into our room and telling us the night was just too long and he was tired of sleeping. He snuggled with me till Ephraim woke up and then we all got up and the boys changed out of their diapers. After we had changed Asher too, we were finally ready to go downstairs! The boys were enthralled at the sight of the beautiful Christmas tree with all the presents lying underneath. As I had planned though, I didn’t want to just go straight to opening presents. I wanted to take a moment to bring our focus to Christ. I could see that the boys were very eager to open presents though so I decided that it would be best to cut out the song. Their attention was waning fast. I bore my testimony first and then Nathan did. He then offered a prayer of thanksgiving for all our many blessings and then the opening of presents began. In no time, the floor was covered in wrapping paper and the content of stockings. It was delightful. The boys were excited about receiving all their gifts. They were so good and grateful. I was so happy that they were having a fun time. Nathan and I just watched them and soaked it in. Then when they were done with their presents, we opened ours. The boys also opened Asher’s presents since he really didn’t know what was going on. He just liked walking through the carnage and picking up whatever he fancied. We cleaned up a bit and Nathan made crepes while the boys played with their new toys. After our delicious breakfast, I went upstairs and tested out my bath beads that Nathan had given me. It was luxurious and so relaxing that I got out of the tub with a twinge of regret. It was time for us to go to the bishop’s house for our Christmas dinner, a very early Christmas dinner (he had invited us when we went in for tithing settlement). When we arrived we found Ceasar there to our surprise and delight. Apparently he had some kind of connection to them through one of his roommates or something. Sister Lovell had cooked up such a delicious Christmas dinner. It really hit the spot. Another couple from our ward was there too, along with three of their children (two daughters and a son). After dinner we played games and talked and had dessert. The whole time was thoroughly enjoyable, every minute. The Lovells were such gracious and sweet hosts and it felt like being with family. When we left, Sister Lovell sent us home with crackers, and a cheese ball and a wrapped gift. They were so kind. Christmas day was truly as beautiful and magical as the day before".