Christmas 2012.

Christmas was utterly perfect and special this year.  

We started out Christmas Eve by going over to Grandma's for the annual opening of the Christmas pajamas and Christmas Eve Dinner.

We brought our friend and neighbor Aurelia with us this year since her mom was working the night shift and no kid should be home alone on Christmas Eve!  

T picked her up some PJ's that day and we let her join in on the fun!

And the big PJ reveal of Christmas Eve night...

[I think we're going to need to start a new tradition where we give each other superhero pajama's from now on.  We were both so excited for our pajamas this year!]

After opening Pj's we took Aurelia home and headed over to my parents for the night. 

 First, we listened to my attractive husband play his new guitar that was his big birthday/Christmas present!  

Then we headed downstairs to play video games.  

All night.  

There's one thing about the Madsen's you've got to know though.  

We play the NES (the OLD Nintendo Game console).  Duck Hunt, SkyShark, and Super Mario Bros. 3 are our all-time favorites!

Best part of the night though?  

When my Dad actually played with us (with Mom looking on...)!  I can count the times he's played with us on one hand.  

We played for hours on Christmas Eve.  

Dad kicked our trash playing Duck Hunt.

He took it very seriously.

Then we split into teams and played SkyShark.  It's my favorite game. 

Ever.

I get a little competitive.

 [My plane blowing up tanks and other fighter planes left and right]

We woke up bright and early to see and talk to Elder Kussee! 

 He's doing fantastic and is loving the people in D.C.  

He's eating lots of yummy food and tried the ObamaBurger.  

He said it wasn't too bad!

 After talking to Elder Kussee, we saw that we had talked longer than we'd thought with him!

My family was understanding and we all decided to open presents after breakfast at Grandma's so we wouldn't be late.

We headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Billings for our annual Christmas Day Breakfast with the entire family.  Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends all get together and eat gobs of food.

We polished off the bacon and all of the waffles while we opened some gifts from Grandma and the rest of the family.  

Becky got us a ridiculously awesome and cute first aid kit (go here to see it!) and Lynne gifted us with a gift card to P.F. Changs.  T's never been and I can't wait to see his face when he bites into their lettuce wraps!

I digress.

Grandma gave us a new porch mat and yummy treats and Karen and Mike made us hot dog cookers for when we go camping!

After breakfast, we went over to the Hoffman's (yes, we still haven't opened presents yet) and talked to Elder Hoffman! 

 He's loving the mission and couldn't believe how much fun and fulfillment he finds in Missouri.

Then, finally, we back to my parents to open our own gifts from  Santa.

T already got his "big" present combined with his birthday (his beautiful guitar!), but I still managed to surprise him with a new hand-made belt buckle and some other little gifts.

He loves his new buckle!

And then, my sneaky little husband got me some of the most thoughtful gifts.  

For the past few years, I've looked at and drooled over red TOMS.  

I've never been able to convince myself to buy a pair because they are a little expensive.  

I've always been satisfied just looking at them and buying off brands that look like them.

And then, Christmas 2012 came. 

 I opened the first box.

Then the next....

And opened the lid to reveal a perfect pair of red TOMS.

Perfect size.

Perfect color.

Along with my TOMS, my lover got me a beautiful new watch, 32GB camera card, yummy smelling candles, lip balm, socks (great minds think alike!), movies, and more.

My parents gave us a new table top grill for camping, books, some more tools, and some beautiful old doilies that my Great Grandma B made.

I'm spoiled.

Rotten. 

We've been so very blessed this year and I couldn't have asked for anything more. 

I would have been happily satisfied to just be with my family and T for the holiday.  

I'm also entirely grateful to my Savior.  He's the very reason for the season and I love Him.  He's made my life the way it is and has given me the greatest gift of all.  

The Atonement.  

Merry Christmas!