And there's more . . .

Meeting Santa at the ward party. Bailey refused to sit on Santa's lap and Aubrey only agreed under duress. Who told my kids that they could grow up?

Some of my favorite gifts from this Christmas were the Twelve Days of Christmas cards we received each day from Bailey, Aubrey, and Joseph.  It was so fun to look forward to a new surprise each day.  They gave us incredibly valuable gifts such as the following:

On the fourth day of Christmas we give you . . . four classic movies that we own, we will watch each one without a groan.  (I love the without a groan part, and now the girls are finally going to watch Sense and Sensibility with me.  And Dan might get them to watch Star Wars.)

On the sixth day of Christmas we give to you . . . six extra chores, two for each kids, you can make sure that we did . . .  (Awesome.  I can't wait to fully cash in on this gift!)

On the ninth day of Christmas your angels give you . . . your kids will make you dinner tonight, eight more times to your delight.


On the eighth day of Christmas your present is . . . eight hand drawn pictures made by us, we carefully drew them without a fuss.

On the third day of Christmas we give you  . . . a date with three of your children, how sweet!  You won't have to pay, it's our treat (at Olive Garden).  This gift came with an expiration date - December 31st, as the girls REALLY wanted to make sure we ate at Olive Garden over the Christmas break. They checked the restaurant menus online and gathered enough of their money to cover our meals.  Even though Brandon wasn't here when the gift was promised,  he came with us to the restaurant, and we all had a great time.  Oh, except Joseph didn't come.  We were merciful to him (and us) and left him with a friend, given his extreme and unreasonable dislike of everything served at Olive Garden, especially the amazing breadsticks.

On the seventh day of Christmas we have the pleasure to give you . . . seven x three equals twenty-one, 21 years you've been married, this was before Brandon came, now let's watch some home movies and walk down memory lane.  Which we did.

On the first day of Christmas we give you . . . one night out with your babe, we'll stay here without being paid.

On the second day of Christmas we give you . . . two comforting rubs to your back, one for each person, it's a pack!!


I should note that all of these remarkable gifts came from the company "Bailey Enterprises" (noted on the back of each card).

There is no greater gift for me as a mom than to watch my kids give of themselves lovingly and generously.  Thank you, kids!