Christmas Day

Growing up, we were Santa people to the max. In fact, I'm 100% certain that I've seen Santa's sleigh flying across the sky at night. ;) While Santa Clause was a fantastic thing in our lives, Christmas Eve scared the beegeebies outta me. I thought the jolly old man was going to come into my room & watch me sleep ("he sees you when you're sleeping..."), so every year on Christmas Eve, I slept with Seth. Then, that became a tradition, too (I'm big on traditions), so all the way up to the Christmas before Seth got married, I slept on the floor in his room. I'm a weirdo, I know.

Aaaanywho, I've since grown up enough to be able to sleep in my room alone on Christmas Eve. I'm now the last Amos child still in the nest, & I've taken on the title of "Hannah Clause". Like I mentioned before, I've been blessed with a fantastic job that pays me enough money to be able to pay my bills and spoil my family.

Usually, we're trying to work out a meal time when all of us can be together. With all of our family & our significant other's families living local, it's tough to get schedules to match up. But we always make it happen! This year was easy peasy. Stacey is an only child, so her parent's Christmas revolves around her, Seth, & Carson. Around Thanksgiving, they had the brilliant idea of combining our holiday meals so that everyone could be together without having the stress of needing to get over to the other family. We went to the Dowdy's for Thanksgiving & the came to our house for Christmas. It's nice having "in-laws" that are just as much family as the actual "in-law".

After my family did our thing, Sebastian & I headed over to his parents' house to spend the rest of the evening with them. Our families have always done Christmas differently. It worked out this year, because we're wake-up-early-and-dive-right-in people, while they're sleep-in-late-and-open-presents-at-night people. So we got there & talked for awhile, opened presents, & talked some more. I brought my camera inside, but I set it down & never picked it back up. Sometimes, I just annoy myself too much. Haha

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Growing up, Christmas has always been busy, busy, busy. It all started on Christmas Eve when we would get out of school, go to church, then go to my uncle's house. The year he passed away, Seth & Stacey got married & started a new tradition of getting their two families together for a Christmas Eve dinner. This was our fifth year doing this, & it's become another staple of the holiday season.

This year, I worked half a day, went out in the monsoon to finish up my shopping, put together a Little Tike's police car for my favorite boys, went to our Christmas Eve service, spent way too long trying to pick something up from Kmart, & ended the night at Seth & Stacey's with my family.

The start of Christmas was kicked off pretty well. :)

Christmas Love

Within the past few years, I learned how much I absolutely love buying things for other people. A couple of Christmases ago, I got everyone a few outfits that I bought online {don't ever do that - nothing fit, haha}, but when it all came in, I was all alksldkfajweoifh!!!!!!!! So fun. 

Last year, I had just started a nannying job a month earlier that paid me $5 an hour. So not only was I still getting into the groove of having some money again, but I was getting into the groove of having juuust enough money to pay my car payment & have a little extra. Anyway, I think I probably got movie gift cards for everyone last year. So lame. 

So this year!!! I've been working the BEST job for six months, I'm actually making money, & I've been crazy excited to do my Christmas shopping! Since I work full-time like the rest of the world, I could only go shopping today...like the rest of the world. So many people. 

& now, four hundred & thirty-two dollars later, I'm almost done with my great big family. & it makes me all kinds of happy. But then, I just want to go give everything right away. I'm seriously the most impatient person I know. Seriously. So annoying. 

But I'll try to hold off. I still have a little bit more shopping to do, but I'm almost done & it isn't even Christmas Eve yet {new record!}. Spending a chunk of change like that would normally make me kind of nauseous, haha, but I'm feeling super thankful that this year, I can spend that on my family. They do so much for me & I love that I can splurge a little on them. So thankful. 

Our family of five has quickly become a family of eleven, & I'm so amazed at all the Lord has done in our lives. So, so, so blessed. 

Cookin' Up Christmas

I just want to take a minute to brag on our kids real quick!

On November 19th, I walked into church & asked our four middle & high schoolers if they'd be willing to take part in a Christmas play. We have one super sweet girl who is a rockstar & had asked about a play, but since our kids department consists of only her a three others (when they can make it), I went to our older kids for help. 

All four of them were on board & I let them choose which musical they wanted to do from past musicals we did at our old church. The only open Sunday in December was the 7th (3 weeks away!), but everyone said they'd work hard & have it ready. 

The next Sunday (2 weeks away!) I passed out speaking parts. Everyone only had maybe 8 lines in the whole play, but those lines were loooong. Some of them were solid paragraphs! 

So they left with their scripts & said they'd practice, practice, practice. We were suppose to get together Wednesday night, but ended up having to cancel. So, the next Sunday (1 week away!). I came in and asked everyone if they had practiced. They all said "no". While my heart sank a little bit, I told them I really did appreciate their honesty. Once I realized that these kids memorizing all of those long lines in a week was just unrealistic, I told them to scratch that & I'd have new lines for them on Wednesday. 

I went home & redid the whole play. I took out lines, added lines, shortened lines - praying they'd be able to pull this off!

On Wednesday (4 days away!), I handed out new scripts. We sat there and went through each scene & worked on memorizing their parts. We went through the songs, too, but they had those nailed from the first time we did the play a few years ago. 

On Saturday (1 day away!), we had final rehearsal. Usually, we have final rehearsal where we'll be doing the play. That way, everyone can see how it will be set up, know where they will stand, & run through it exactly like it will be the next day. Since we don't actually have a church building of our own yet, we had to do final rehearsal at my house. I set up the living room as close to the real thing as I could, but it's still much different when you get in the actual place. Then, add mics & chords too the mix - so much stuff! 

Sunday came & those kids rocked it. They sang their songs, they said their parts, & they were confident about it all. Our three babies put on little aprons & danced around during a couple of the songs, too. I was blown away at how hard everyone really did work. In just three short weeks - only five practices - they learned their lines & put on a Christmas musical. 

Only five kids (& three babies), but they were such a blessing. 

Cast

Paula Queen : Stacey

Betty Rocker : Carman

Emerald Lasagna : Sebastian

Uncle Earl Humdinger : Pete

Rachael Day : Kaitlyn

Bobby Grey : Bruce Jr.

Martha Steward : Jaelin