It was a GORGEOUS day on Christmas Eve and so we started the day out in the backyard clearing out a spot for our new trampoline. It was a family effort turned dance party ;)
This area was rarely used and that decorative grass was invading everything, so we ripped it all out, moved the bench and we'll re-mulch this Spring.
Luke played next door with Aiden for a while and the little two painted Christmas trees and ornaments.
We enjoyed manicotti for lunch (some of us enjoyed it A LOT!)...
... and then this kid finagled his way out of napping with Eskimo kisses, giggling and lots of Christmas questions.
A package arrived from Canada (my entire extended family lives in Canada) and the kids were so excited to open their new books from Auntie Judy.
We got dressed and ready for church...
... and headed to Dave's Granny's house. She lives in the same house that Dave's dad grew up in and it's so sweet to take our kids there.
Then we snapped this wonderful family photo :)
After visiting with Dave's dad's family and eating dinner, we met my parents at church. I LOVE Christmas Eve service! Growing up we went every Christmas Eve and I love the music, the candlelight, the Lord's Supper and the pause among the busyness to reflect on the birth of Jesus.
So remember how Mason boycotted napping? Well, it caught up to him mid-service when he crashed on my lap. I LOVE when my kids fall asleep on me - but it should be noted that Mason is the sweatiest sleeper ever :) He get rosy cheeks and "sweaty head" every time he falls asleep. His teachers laugh about it at school and I can only think of his future wife. Let's hope she's cold-natured and appreciates the fact that he's a furnace!
After church we snapped another wonderful family photo - complete with my dads finger in the foreground.
Mason fell back asleep on the car ride home and we actually carried him inside and put him straight to bed for the night. Griffin was WIPED and she went to bed quickly as well. At first I was kind of disappointed we didn't have the whole crew up to hang out and do the cookies and milk thing, but in the end it ended up being a really sweet and special time with just Luke.
We got out cookies for Santa and played the rummikub game that Gram gave him earlier that night. He caught on SUPER quick and actually ended up the winner at the end of all the rounds we played.
We ate all the cookies we had designated for Santa (ooops!) and so after picking out a few more and giving goodnight kisses we called it a night.
(Can we pause for a second and talk about how this time last year Jack Bauer was out on the street in the cold and rain and this year he's eating shortbread cookie crumbs, getting goodnight kisses and sleeping in bed with Luke on Christmas Eve???)
Christmas morning these cuties were surprised to find a WiiU under the tree from Santa! Well... they found empty WiiU boxes under the tree because Santa already set up the whole system the night before so it was ready to play! (smartest Santa move EVER!)
Their first round of MarioCart!
Griffin got a dollhouse and she was immediately enamored!
Breakfast casserole baking in the oven, Christmas music playing and present opening. The best!
The boys LOVED their ramp kits that Dave and I got them. Besides the WiiU I think it was probably their favorite gift. It's been so much fun to see them explore and experiment and reason.
This picture pretty much sums our morning up ;) My parents gave him a remote control helicopter and he was just a little excited.
This picture captures the chaos and the sweetness that was GG opening her new bitty baby from my parents.
High fives for Daddy for assembling the doll high chair ;)
Best we got ;)
We cleaned up a bit, changed out of our pjs and went to Dave's aunt and uncle's house for lunch. How cute are these cousins?!?! Lucy just turned one and Griffin LOVED her!
Same two girls 367 days earlier ;)
After a lunch of ham, turkey, dressing and all the sides we headed outside to burn off some energy.
Mason got hot and removed his shirt. Who would have thought he'd be running around shirtless on Christmas?!?!?! hahaha
Apparently he was rolling around in the grass when he rolled through a bunch of ants and he got about a dozen bites all over his chest. OOOPS!!!
Girl time ;)
Tomorrow I'll share the rest of our celebrations with family! Happy Tuesday, friends!!!
Ahhhh! Too many cute pictures!! Luke with his helicopter was probably my fave...that face is priceless!
ReplyDeleteIt was totally one of those awesome candid moments captured at just the right time :)
DeleteCrazy how warm it was on Christmas just about everywhere. loved the video you posted with the empty boxes for the Wii! Have a great day
ReplyDeleteThanks, girl! It was so funny when he picked it up and couldn't figure out why it was so light and then when they realized it was ready to be played with they FREAKED! hahaha
DeleteBITTY BABY!! So sweet : ) All of your Christmas pictures look like so much fun and Santa setting up the Wii already for the boys was brilliant! Enjoy the rest of your break!
ReplyDeleteSanta is a smart guy! It took a while to set everything up and get it all connected so I was sooooo glad it was done so they could just dive right in and play!
DeleteWhat a great recap!!! I'm jealous of this weather-it was raining in Missouri!! Almost the entire time we were there!
ReplyDeleteBOO! Your family is not short on the supply of fun, though, so I'm sure y'all made the most of it :)
DeleteWhat a fun day, girl!! The kids look like they had so much fun!!
ReplyDeleteI feel like as a group they're at the IDEAL age for Christmas right now :)
DeleteWhat a great time.
ReplyDeleteIt was! Thanks, Regine!
DeleteWhat a fun morning!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was! Thanks, Elaine!
DeleteWhere did you get the ramp kits??
ReplyDeleteI found mine on Zulily, but it's by Kodo Kids if you're looking for it on Google.
DeleteGood times! Enjoy seeing your precious family on Christmas Day:) And, how about that Jack Bauer ?!? I can't believe it's only been a year since you've had him, seems like he was always a part of your family. The luckiest dog ever;)
ReplyDeleteRight?!?! He's the perfect fit :)
DeleteLooks like such a nice Christmas! It was super warm here in PA too which made for some unusual Christmas photos (shorts instead of sweaters!) so just curious, does your extended fam in Canada ever come to visit? Or have you guys gone there to see them?
ReplyDeleteWe laughed so hard at the boys all sweaty and shirtless outside playing football on CHRISTMAS! Crazy! My family does come to visit on occasion - my Oma usually comes at least once a year and various family members visit as well. I haven't been up since I've had kids, but we have plans to head north in the next year or so!
DeleteLooks like great fun! Love the matching pajamas!
ReplyDeleteLove all of the pictures! How do the kids like the new trampoline? And I have to ask, where did you get that adorable top you're wearing on Christmas Eve? - love your style:)
ReplyDeleteI hope they LOVE MarioKart and that you'll try it out too :) Looks like a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteVery cute photos. Seems like you had a wonderful Christmas. Mariokart is fun to play. The matching pajamas are so cute too. Hope you have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteYour sweet family always looks to be having the best time. I wasn't able to spend this holiday season with my own family -- only with my in-laws -- so I *may* have even teared up at all the family-ness you guys had on Christmas day and the following days. Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete