Christmas Blessing

I was going to title this post "Christmas/(Kezia's) Blessing," but I decided that it worked just like it is - because Christmas truly was a blessing this year. I really think that 2009 will be a Christmas to remember - one we'll look back on and cherish. One that will change all future Christmas' because we will work harder to bless others the way we have been blessed this year.


From all sides, generosity came pouring in. We have never had such bounteous gift-giving. Christmas morning was truly exciting because there were many presents that were absolute mysteries. We had no idea what was inside. They didn't disappoint! The sub-for-santa gifts were wonderful, thoughtful, and delightful. Thank you again to our "Santa." As far as the going-down-the-chimney Santa, he brought McKinley a princess bike (she LOVES it - rides it around and around the kitchen island all day long), Ireland got a portable DVD player (OK, so she wasn't that stoked about it now, but I'm sure on our trips to Richfield, she will be LOVIN' it!), and Kezia got a cute toy.


We got to Grandma & Grandpa Potts house a bit late (OK, OK - 45 minutes late - sorry!). We had a great time this year - it was so wonderful because all the gifts were so thoughtful! We had the Edwards family for gift-giving and we had an agreement that we would spend nothing on the adults and under $10 on the kids. We got the kids some toys and got Cindy some DVDs that were transferred from tapes, gift certificates for babysitting, more DVD transferring, and digital scrapbooking. I also put together an 11x17 homemade picture with a butterfly poem and the footprints of each of her children made to look like butterflies.

Cindy was AMAZING! In between all her studying, preparing for her own Christmas, & being a single mom to 4 kids, she was able to make each of my girls fairy dress up costumes (from sentimental material, no less!), get each of them red & black dresses with matching flower/bows, make me LOADS of bread-maker ingredients in a bag, mom's hot chocolate in a bag, and probably the most meaningful of all - a day-by-day thought book made from my mom's old one. She typed each thought (all 365), printed them, cut them each out (had to be in a circular shape), and pasted it. I LOVE it, Cindy! We also got hand-made moccasins from Mike - they're way comfy -thanks Mike! Also, Kalli was cute & gave us a sacrament book for the girls and Tiarra was SO SWEET - she handmade gifts for all of us - clothespin dolls for the girls, a handstitched bookmark for me, and she even made a tooth bag for McKinley's first tooth. Tiarra- you rock! I seriously loved this year because everyone was so much more thoughtful and creative.


We also loved (as we do every year) Uncle Richard's amazing bag of candy for each person. And we're not talkin' little bite-sized pieces. No - I'm talking POUNDS of king-sized candy bars, jerky, etc. Awesome. Also, THANKS goes to mom & dad who got each of us a 9x11 digital photo frame. I've always wanted one!!


The rest of the day was spent enjoying the company of family (& especially the Checketts & Joseph who we don't get to see much), watching movies (Star Trek, Coraline & old home movies), going to the theatre (the boys went to see Sherlock Holmes), and eating tons of yummy food.
What an amazing Christmas! Here's a few pics (more in the Dec slideshow to come):
McKinley with her new bike!




The girls with their morning "loot"!



Kezia in her new bumbo!

My favorite gifts of all!


The crazy Potts girls

Kezia's blessing was the Sunday after Christmas. It's supposed to be on a fast Sunday, but with my sister & brother in town, we were able to have it the Sunday after Christmas. It was a beautiful blessing. Kezia was gorgeous in her dress (with the hand-crocheted overdress from Grandma Tew that all the Potts great-grand-daughters have been blessed in). She did so great the entire day & it was so neat to have both sides of the family at our home to visit, eat good food, and share in the celebration of our sweet new baby girl.

Before church (see the dresses that Cindy got for McKinley & Ireland & our cute matching bows?)

The girls (doesn't Kezi just look like a little doll?)

Her namesakes

the boys.

Now... here's a comparison of all my girls in the same dress...

McKinley - Oct 2005

Ireland - Sept 2007

Kezia - Dec 2009