Christmas time is here!

Christmas Eve 2009!

Ugly Sweaters!

And the winner is.....

Collette had an ultrasound earlier this week and she could find out if she was having a boy or girl, she decided that she wouldn't have the nurse tell her what it is, just to write it on a piece of paper. Collette took that piece of paper and 2 outfits (1 for a girl and one for a boy) to a friend so she could wrap the outfit, and on Christmas Eve Noah opened the present to find out if he was having a little sister or a little brother. Before he opened the present we all made a guess on who thought it was a boy and who thought it was a girl, then Collette would pick a name from the winning group and they got a prize.

Its a GIRL!

and Travis won!

All bundled up!

Meg and I in our matching headbands!

Noah singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer before bed!

Christmas Morning!

We started the morning at 7:30 at Collettes house to open presents!

Brinlee loves the Tutu I made for her!

Then we went to Josh's parents house to open presents and eat brunch!

I love Christmas!

Most people know that I love all Holidays! I have lots of favorites, but Christmas Eve is my absolute favorite! I just love the holiday season and most things about it.

My favorite tradition of the holiday season is going to "The Forgotten Carols". We have been every year as a family since I don't know when, I just love it. I was so excited to take Josh this year, he knew the story and had heard the songs but had never seen it. There is always the strongest spirit there, its so special. When I warned Josh that I cry all they way through it I don't think he understood that my crying starts as soon as the music does. :)

I just wanted to take some pictures of the Christmas decorations at our house this year for our first Christmas together!

I got a few decorations for bridal showers but I also got some of my moms decorations too.

Our tree has some of Josh's ornaments that he got every year from his mom, some ornaments that my mom had, snow flakes I made (they were supposed to be for some other project that i never completed), and some ribbon and jewels from our wedding! Our tree has character!

My mom made this advent calender, I couldn't wait to put a light up everyday in December when I was younger.
This is one of my favorite decorations, I got this as a wedding gift. It is beautiful!

I am very big in Christmas music, I try to start listening to it after Thanksgiving, but it always starts before. The Oakridge Boys Christmas is a album we would always listen to while decorating the Christmas tree while i was growing up, so I thought I would continue the tradition in our house. It brings back so many good memories!

I am so excited to share "The Christiansen Family Christmas Eve" with Josh! We have always loved Christmas Eve. We have a big dinner, including crab legs and shrimp for the seafood eaters and steak for Nicole and Dave! Then we get all bundled up to go downtown and walk around Temple Square to see the lights, when we get back home we open our Christmas Jammies and all change in to them, even if it is only 7 :) Then we eat goodies and play games. It is so fun. My mom had a special "Christmas Eve" laugh when we played games, you knew she had enough sugar and was about ready for bed once that laugh started! I think that is what makes Christmas Eve so special to all of us, being so close as a family and doing something that my mom loved, its hard not to feel her around us.

I will be sure to take lots of pictures tomorrow of our Christmas Eve festivities (including the Ugly Sweaters!)

Santa babies!

They are so cute!