Our first Christmas

This year was our first Christmas with Spencer and we had a blast! Usually Jon and I go down to his parent's house for Christmas, but since this was Spencer's first, we wanted to start our own family traditions. The Barnes and Townsend families do Christmas very differently so we decided to meet in the middle.
My family is more of a Christmas Eve family. In the morning we go out to eat to some sort of buffet. (when I was little we usually went to Shoney's) then that evening we would do a dinner of finger foods. (pizza rolls, crackers and cheese, little sandwhiches, etc) after we ate, my Dad would always read the Christmas story from the scriptures, then we would open all of our family presents. Christmas morning we would wake up and see what Santa brought us.
Jon's family does everything Christmas Day. They open gifts in the morning and have a wonderful Christmas meal around lunch time. The rest of the day is spent eating and playing games.
We decided this year, that we would compromise. My Dad, his wife Ruth, my sister Brenna and her family, along with Jon's parents and two sisters joined us Christmas Eve. We did the Christmas Eve finger food dinner, my Dad read from the scriptures, and we all opened only one gift Christmas Eve. (I can't just NOT open a gift, it's completely against my nature and Jon refuses to open them all..) Then Christmas Day we opened the rest, had a great lunch and spent the rest of the day watching movies and playing games.
Everything went so well, even Santa couldn't stay away! Him and Mrs. Claus paid us a little visit Christmas Eve. Spencer liked Mrs. Claus, but I think Santa made him a little nervous.

Here are a few photos from our first Christmas as a family :)

Spencer opening his gift from Mom and Dad

Meeting Mr. and Mrs. Claus

Townsend Family in front of the tree