Feliz Navidad!!!!

and Merry Christmas to you, too!!! We had a very good Christmas Eve. My friend Celest invited us over to celebrate with some friends on Christmas Eve. For the last three weeks I have been teaching Nicky and four more of her friends a dance routine to perform it that day. Growing up, my sister Monica used to take me and my baby sister Dina to one of her friend's house along with a we other girls around our age they would teach us a dance to performance it in special occasions. We love it! I wanted Nicky to experience that. So Nicky, Samantha, Kylie, Megan, and Sage danced Jingle Bell Rock. They all looked adorable. They worked so hard, even with the mean teacher I can be. I had fun and I think they did, too. I could see their eyes. They felt so important in the party, just the way I used to feel when we were doing a special dance. Celest also made us play some present exchange games, did the nativity were Zach was baby Jesus (of course), and we ended up the day with the Knights playing Mafia (just the adults). I had so much fun. The only sad thing was that Glenn was on call and couldn't come with us HOWEVER he was here with us to celebrate Christmas day!!! I felt so blessed for that.

"Santa" had a broken sleigh this year and "sent" one of his elves to leave a letter to the kids, promising them to leave their presents later on that same Christmas Day. To do that, he asked us to leave the house for "an hour or so" so he could come and leave everything. We decided to go to earlier meetings at church for another ward (that way we could come back early, too, and Glenn could go back to sleep). Church was great and the special music was excellent, but there was one speaker that took too long and the other one didn't get the memo that sacrament meetings are supposed to last just for one hour. That being said, sacrament lasted for 1 hr and 30 minutes. Glenn and I were laughing at the situation. We felt so smart on going early so we could have a break and there we were. Glenn kept saying that he could just imagine Heavenly Father pointing and laughing about us "trying to be so smart" and he told me, "I'm sure our ward will be in sacrament meeting for 40 minutes." I talked to my friend Celest and she told me that Glenn's prediction was true. More to laugh at us anyway.
The kids were super excited to see their presents from Santa when they walked in the house after meetings were over. It was so fun to see them get what they asked for. Nicky asked for a Barbie dream house. The house was so heavy that Santa left it upstairs. :) Nicky walked in and was a little sad that she didn't see her big present in the living room, then she checked Santa's note telling her to look upstairs, letting her know that her gift was too big so he left it where she was probably going to play with it. Clever Santa.
Ian got a "General Grievous" (Star Wars) sword. Hanna got her interactive "puppy dog" and Zach got a robot that has lots of lights and rolls around. I got a vintage popcorn maker and Glenn got a cotton candy maker. Tons of movies, Wii games, and candy were in the stockings and boxes, and the kids and us got more fun stuff (collection of Junie B. Jones books, Polly Pocket toys, dolls, Barbies, Tv.'s, camera, boots, robes, clothes, shoes, crocks, collection of Star Wars toys, Transformers, cars, potty training barbies, pet shop toys, princess accessories, a tripod for my special camera, and a HUGE mask of Optimus Prime). We had a great Christmas. Yeah the gifts were great but the best of all is that we were all together. My house is a mess and we are extra exhausted, but we are enjoying this time together. I'm so grateful for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and for so much love that He feels for all of us. I really think He wants to see us all happy. I'm grateful for the wonderful family we are forming and for living in this crazy time. I truly feel the love of my Savior every day when I see the love of my kids in their eyes. Or the gentleman and wonderful husband I have. Nicky told me yesterday that she felt warm in her heart every time she hugs me. I can still see Ian's, Hanna's, and Zach's eyes sparkle with love when they see me. I'm not proud of what kind of mom I am, and every day I see an opportunity to become better. I probably fail in most of my attempts but I will keep trying my best to raise good future grown ups. I feel that I don't deserve the wonderful husband that I have and yet I feel blessed every day for having him with me, holding my hand so patiently. I try hard to be a good wife, but I know I can do better. I'm still trying.
I'm grateful for my family which by the way keeps growing every time we move. I have made so many wonderful friends, and I feel really blessed to have them.
Anyway pics and video will be posted LATERRRR!!