Christmas Eve!

Bill reading Luke Chapter 2

The fam.!

BFFs!

I saw Grandma kissin' Santa Claus!

I look forward to Christmas Eve all year long. First we went to Grandma Dopp's house for brunch. We have a tradition of opening presents in the basement. My grandpa talked about the true meaning of Christmas, then everybody wrote a present to Jesus that they could do in 2011. We put the little pieces of paper in a box, so next Christmas we can read them and see if we have done it! I put saying my prayers every morning and finishing Personal Progress. Then we had a little Christmas Performance by the grand kids. I played Hedwig's Theme on the flute, Lex did Jingle Bell Rock on the violin, Ruby played Arietta on the guitar, Ari played O Come All Ye Faithful on the cello, Tanner and Chase played piano and Xanthe played Jolly Old St. Nickolas on the piano. And then all the kids sang Rudolf and Jingle Bells. Then my grandparents opened their presents. My mom had all 23 cousins over to paint a portrait of themselves, then we glued it to a big poster and it turned out so cute! Ruby and Lex painted a picture for them, and I wrote them a letter. Then it was our turn! I got a full length mirror, clothes, jammies, head band, necklace, Christmas Journal and art supplies from my grandma and grandpa and a makeup kit from my secret elf-Izzy! Thanks Iz and Grandma and Grandpa! I gorged myself in grandma's delicious dinner and treats after everyone opened their gifts! My grandma spends so much time making sure Christmas is special, and it always is. I am so thankful for her and grandpa. Then we went to the Kings to read the Bible story. It is so fun to listen to Bill read and sit by the fireplace!
After we had gone to Dopps and Kings we went home to get ready for Santa to come! But first I finished The Book of Mormon! I thought it was so special that I could finish it on Christmas Eve! I know now better than ever the true meaning of Christmas and I am so thankful for The Book of Mormon and I know it is true.
I went to sleep feeling the spirit and thinking about why we celebrate Christmas.