Christmas in the Truman House

It comes every year.  The lights, the scriptures, the lessons, the family, the joy, and the fun.  Every year it gets better and better.  This year the girls from BYU flew home to celebrate the holidays with us.  Dad called every night on Google Hangout to talk.  

Not only did our family have fun by ourselves, but many of our friends helped us make the season festive.  On Christmas Eve, the Lawniczak family insisted we come to their party so we did.  For Christmas Dinner, we invited the Browns.  The Smith girls came over twice to play some games and hit the craft table.  On New Year's Eve the Sisters helped us eat the appetizers and fudge. 

200 years ago owning a camera was impossible.  Taking and printing pictures was unheard of.   Now, because we live in such a great time our family can catalog our lives.  Whenever something is going on we can snap a picture and voila a moment is saved.  This is really really nice since we have a Dad on the other side of the world and two sisters in Provo and all we have to do is push a few buttons and they can share in the moments too.

On Tuesday Night, we jumped into the truck and headed off to the Wilmington Airport. 

Emily 

Jessica

Hannah, Emily, and Spencer

Jessica could have been the Queen of England with all the attention she got after getting of the plane.

When we arrived at the Lawniczak's we found a huge feast.  The food was really amazing and we had fun sharing it.

This is a really blurry picture, but it captures everyone: the Missionaries, the Crimins, our Hosts, and the amazing Truman family.

After filling up, we all sat down and had a musical devotional.

Poor David fell asleep.

This is a really sad story.  This is a picture of our rocking chair.  It was as old as Jessica and has been used by Mom for all the babies.  A couple months ago it broke, but we didn't have the heart to throw it away.  It finally bothered Mom enough that she put it in the trash pile on the curb.  When we came home from getting Emily and Jessica from the airport what we saw was tragic.  As we were pulling up to the driveway we witnessed the garbage man  as he carelessly threw our family heirloom into the back of his truck and watched as he drove away.   It was really sad.

Unlike most years, Dad persuaded Mom this year to find Christmas presents for the Family.  Jessica and Hannah wrapped and decorated all the presents with the occasional help of Mom and Spencer.  

All the little kids were anxiously waiting for the door of Mom's bedroom to open. We made them sit on the couch as we carried the gifts to the living room.  

We have one of the best families in the world!

On Christmas morning we gathered around  and called Dad.  He was able to watch the whole morning happen.

We love our red wall, but unfortunately it makes pictures look a little interesting.   

David testing out the new skates.

Braden loves the new Hot wheel bathtub track.  After we finished  picking up the living room he dragged Hannah into the bathroom.

Emily enjoyed looking at pictures from the past few years.

Spencer and the legos

Braden and Emily

Because we live in Sneads Ferry we have the pleasure of visiting the beach every Christmas.

On New Year's Eve we had a fun time lighting sparklers and throwing pop-its.

Katie 

Gavin

Braden

Hannah, Spencer, and Jessica tried spelling out 2015, but our camera couldn't capture it.

We had a great year full of adventures and we can't wait to see what this new year will hold.  Unfortunately Emily and Jessica couldn't stay with us forever so we brought them to the airport and said good-bye.  We can't wait to hear about the fun things they have planned for this semester.  Go Cougars!