Christmas 2010

The Christmas season was so exciting - probably the first year Andrew remembered a little bit about Christmas from the year before and understood the excitement of presents and celebrating Jesus' birthday. We also realized that celebrating 3 birthdays and 3 major holidays (thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year) all within 60 days was a little busy! It was also a first year for us to make traditions. In the past we have spent the Christmas season with family at their respective homes and we decided it would be nice to do our own thing this year! It was really fun to make up our new traditions!

We had 3 advent calendars. 1 of dolls from around the world that the kids loved putting in and out of their pockets, a nativity advent and an "activity advent" that i made. Every day we put a piece of paper in and had the boys pull out our Christmas activity. Usually pretty simple like have a cookie or read a special book. And other more exciting ones were to go cut down our tree and go to "Niederman" light display. I really liked this tradition.

The night before Christmas was a late one but worth all the time cooking and wrapping presents. The boys woke up like they normally would and we had covered some of their larger presents with blankets - which they loved "unwrapping" over and over. This wagon was something i picked up at a garage sale and had been saving. It provided many hours of indoor entertainment during the winter and i love how their is a seat for each child:)

We gave the kids stockings and in each one they had crackers with cheese, gold fish and raisins. They were so excited that they ate them all at once and got a little tummy ache! It is fun how it is the simple things at this age:)

Elsie having her first taste of goldfish. Definitely a hit:)

We found this homemade rocker at Goodwill for Elsie's present. She loves riding it and so does Jack. It is one sturdy horse!

We took a break for breakfast - something Stephen always enjoyed from growing up was having a nice big breakfast. So we made our favorite homemade cinnamon rolls and eggs and had a nice breakfast. And as true in my family, we opened presents one at a time and took turns giving presents to eachother. The boys played with these jenga for months - just making trucks and cars, garages, etc. i never imagined they would like them so much!

We had found their gifts during the summer at garage sales so it was fun to finally have them open them! We must have spent 4 hours opening presents spending lots of time playing with each one. The boys really didn't know what to think about getting all these presents!

Late in the afternoon we had a big Christmas meal - ham, scalloped potatoes and a new raspberry gingerbread tort (so good!). A fun, low key day:)

Having an impromptu picnic with some new lunch boxes.

Happy girl:)

We also made Jack a no sew "cars" blanket and Andrew a no sew "cars" pillow. So much fun giving them presents:)