Really, these kids are getting too big and too old for all our traditions. There’s not room for them on the fireplace and there’s just barely enough room in front of the tree. Nevertheless, here we are again-Christmas Eve gift opening. I failed to get a picture of them in their new duds because we did something different this year and gave them a choice of two things in the box. It was pretty much chaos after that and I neglected to take a picture of the final choices. Note to self-never give a choice.

Rock tried REALLY hard to get the kids to sleep in on Christmas morning. And they did actually sleep in-sort of, some of them. Either way we started later than we ever have. Alli and Cam who were staying at our house could not believe how long everyone slept. It was a Christmas miracle.

I got a fancy new vacuum that will let me clean my stairs easily. Yeah, I’m pretty boring.

I even got to build legos this year. That was a first! Cade got me this for Christmas this year!

Reagan has kept the kids stocked in Legos for the past few years and this year was no different. He is too generous for his own good.

Cam’s Ham and Cam’s Yams

We love having Cam in the family because he makes our holiday meals amazing. There are other reasons, too, but that one is in the top 5. 😉 This year for Christmas dinner he smoked ham and put the most delicious glaze on it. He was very excited about his glaze. He opened the lid, breathed in deeply and said, “Mmmm smells like Christmas!” After glazing the ham he then took a blow torch to it! It was very exciting. The kids stopped building legos or playing minecraft I can’t remember which, to come up and watch.

I don’t know who asked Santa for more of Cam’s yams but he brought those too! Thanks for all the yummy food this Christmas, Cam and Allie!

This year my parents made the kids work hard for their gifts. They put some money inside these crazy maze boxes and to get it to open they had to solve the maze. The boys especially loved the challenge.

It was great to see Rock’s parents after Christmas and to have them here for Cade’s homecoming. They got each of the boys (the ones over 40, too) these awesome headlamps. All you have to do is wave your hand past it to turn it on or off so taking this picture took a really loooong time. lol

They also got us each a really cool pair of socks.

It was so awesome to have everyone home at Christmas. I love that Reagan is so generous and wants to keep the magic alive. I love that Cade still counts every present under the tree even if he pretends not to. I love that Levi is patient with both those things. And I love that Libby still can’t sleep the night before Christmas. Can’t wait to see what 2026 has in store for each of them and for Rock and I.