It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Merry Christmas to all!

We had a great time celebrating Christmas this year! Check it out:

Decorating snowflakes, while listening to Christmas music and eating Chex Party Mix. Pretty festive, if I may say so.

Sitting on Santa's lap at the ward Christmas party. The girls were so excited! No melt-downs, no shyness. They did great

!

The sweet primary children did the Nativity, and Natalie was a shepherd. Her (uncreative) mother threw together her costume in about 5 seconds. :) Tis the season to be super-busy.

Family Christmas photo for our Christmas card

Christmas Eve Day!! The annual shooting of the cookies. :) An Ellsworth family tradition is to make these little butter spritz cookies, and the girls loved taking turns "shooting" out cookies with the gun.

1 day until Christmas!!

The Christmas tree

All the girls' handiwork

Doing the Nativity on Christmas Eve. Abi was the angel.

Joseph, Mary, and "the donkey."

Angel proclaiming the Savior's birth, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. (Not pictured: the inn keeper/shepherd... aka me)

Christmas Eve PJs from Grandma and Papa Utah. Pretty cute!

Santa came...

Christmas morning: sleepy eyes, cute jammies, and new toothbrushes in the stockings. :) (A tradition I think we'll carry on in our family)

New hair accessories

So happy that Santa came!

Distributing the Christmas presents

Some very merry people

Cory decided I needed a Christmas picture... I've got the squinty sleepy eye look down pat.

Abi made us all laugh with how much she loved her little orange. She carried that thing around through most of the gift opening. :)

The building of the "present forts." Something Cory did from the time he was little, and that will now be a tradition in our home. :)

Abi's fort

Natalie made us some Christmas ornaments in her pre-K program. Cory really really like them.

Thanks for the BYU hat, Chadd and Jodi! I think he likes it. :)

teamwork

Natalie's haul

Abi's haul

Making the traditional "Ellsworth" Christmas breakfast: Waffles with whipped cream and strawberries and sausage links. We added orange julius to the mix as well.

The girls showing off their new "My little ponies."

Nothing beats Christmas kisses

For those who have been asking: Here's my pregnant self. 1 month to go!!! I admit it's not the best belly picture ever, and PROMISE that I look bigger in person.

After Christmas church services. There is a swing hanging on the lawn near the church. The girls love to swing on it for a few minutes when church is over. Today, I had my camera. Also, note the green grass and lovely "Christmas-y" weather we are having.

Don't fall out, Natalie!

Cory with his girls. Don't know how we're going to fit three little girls on his lap in the future.

Natalie giving me a push on the swing. :)

Enjoying all the fun new Christmas gifts

Such a happy little face!

I hope each of you had "happy faces" for Christmas. We are so thankful for the birth of the Savior and the gift of His life. He is the One who truly makes "spirits bright." We are grateful for wonderful family and amazing friends who love and support us daily. Merry, Merry Christmas to each of you! We love you!