Happy New Year!

Our friends, The Perrys, invited us over for a little New Year's Eve shindig.  We decided to celebrate east coast New Year's because I had to work the next day and we have lots of young children. We had delicious treats and fun games of Killer Bunnies. Steve set up a balloon drop for our celebration which the kids thought was pretty much the best thing ever. It was so cute. Thanks for having us over to ring in the New Year, Perrys!

Christmas Brunch

For some reason I never take many photos of Christmas Brunch. Maybe it's because I'm all camera'd out. ;)  We enjoyed a lovely brunch at my sister's house this year with my sister's family, GG and Grandpa-Great, Aunt Pam and Uncle Bill, Uncle Larry, and Aunt Bethie.  We played games and the kids ran around like crazy people. ;) It was a good day.


Playing the family memory game Santa brought us.








Tired Santa Papa.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmas Morning

I love Christmas morning. But, I think I love Christmas Eve, after the kids are in bed and the presents are out and the lights are off and the tree is beautiful, even more. iphone takes surprisingly beautiful photos of such moments.
 

We knew Christmas early would come early around these parts. The kids were extremely excited, to say the least. And they lucked out that Aunt Bethie slept on their floor that night (although I'm not sure she actually slept much.) PLUS, it was our year to have Nana and Papa for Christmas morning, which was the icing on the cake.

Now, the things that the kids asked for changed a few times. Liam asked for (surprise, surprise) a Thomas set, but then he changed his mind to a Nerf Megacenturion. Addy had asked Santa for a princess castle, and then she changed her mind to a Barbie car. Finn, well we decided, that he wanted a Santa balloon. The kid loooves balloons.

I asked for some cozy felted wool slippers. Wes asked for a book press to personalize his library.

Christmas morning came and we were up around 5:30.  The kids were so surprised with their goodies. It truly is so much fun watching them. Santa also pulled a few surprises- he brought Liam and Addy some low maintenance frogs which they decided to name Castle and Harry Potter.

Addy had been eying a present from the Darringtons for a few day, and she decided to open that first, I guess because she had been anticipating it for so long. She loved her blanket that matched mommy's.

The kids got their wishes- Santa brought a balloon, megacenturion, and a barbie car. The kids also were extra lucky and mama and daddy got their other wishes. It was a good Christmas!

Finn decided that he needed a break once or twice. He was most interested in his balloon and Christmas cookies.  He and Papa enjoyed cookies for breakfast.

My favorite surprise was a German music box that I found for my mom online. My dad bought it and I found it, so it was from both of us. ;)  She was shocked. It was a wooden music box with a grandma making sugar cookies with her grandkids. So perfect.  I also bought her some beautiful nutcracker soap from the hospital gift shop, which was sort of funny, but it was SO cute and she loved it. I think I enjoy shopping for my mom's stocking most of all. :)  She's spoiled us with our stockings for so many years that it's fun to do that in return, especially with my dad's money. :)

The kid got lots of goodies in their stockings as well. I think they may be my favorite part of Christmas morning. We've always done them last, which is probably sort of backwards to some people, but it always felt like the grand finale for us.

Without further ado, here are photos from our blessed Christmas morning.