Merry Christmas!

We hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas! We started our celebrating on the 23rd with the Seljaas Family. We always look forward to this each year and had a great time with everyone. We were assigned to bring a cheeseball. Sadie thought it would be fun to make a Santa Cheese ball. I think it kind of looked like him! We had a fabulous dinner and then we had a visit from Santa. I thought by the 3rd visit Brinley would be used to him but each time we have to help her walk up to see him. By the end of his visit she loved him! This picture tells it all. Christmas eve was a busy day and we were gone all day. We started off the day with a nice visit with Eric's parents and and then were off to Eric's Aunt's house for our Norwegian Christmas party. This is always a lot of fun as we dance around the tree singing ENEBAERBUSK. The song is in norwegian. Most of the family sings it in Norwegian but some of us just sing a few of the easy words and just do the actions! It is fun to see all of Eric's Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. The kids also do the Norwegian tradition of cutting a brownpaper sack with a orange in it blindfolded! It is always a little scary but the kids love it. We were then off to my family party up and Kristi and Jason's house. We had a really nice Roast beef dinner. After dinner Hailey started acting a little weird. The next second I see a sick look on her face and all of a sudden she threw up every where. I felt so bad for her she threw up 5 times within a half hour. Eric decided that he would take her home while we finished the party. I felt bad that they missed it. After they left we brought out the white stocking that is in memory of my Dad. Last year we each wrote down something we would do to honor my Dad. It was neat to open up our letters and see if we accomplished our goal. My mom shared hers and said that her goal was to bear her testimony more. She did it often and said her testimony was strengthened. She challenged us to bear our testimony more. I am so proud of her she has moved forward with faith this past year and she is a huge example to me. We had a wonderful evening together and by the end the kids were anxious to get home and to bed so Santa could come. We made it home to a sick Hailey. She was up all night sick with the Flu. We didn't get much sleep but were excited for Christmas Morning to come. Hailey was doing a little better but not great. Sadie and Brin were so excited to open their presents to find just what they had been asking for an I-Touch. It was fun to see them so excited. Hailey loved her new doll and Dora DS game. They also loved their Zu Zu pets. By the end of the day Hailey was back to her fun self and loved playing with her toys. It was a wonderful christmas spent with family that I love so much. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by the people that I love.

Brinley hugging Santa

Seljaas Family enjoying fun white elephant gifts!
Santa Cheese Ball
Grandma Alldredge on Santa's lap

White stocking in memory of Grandpa Alldredge
Norwegian Christmas party
Dancing around the tree. We make three big rings around the tree, hold hands and sing and dance around the tree.
kids listening to their ipods
playing with zu,zu pets

Hailey actually smiling even though she was sick!
Sadie opening presents!
Brinley opening presents!