12.31.2011 Christmas with Grandpa

On New Year's Eve we celebrated Christmas with Great Grandpa. It was very nice to see family that we don't get to see very often. Great Grandpa had a pretty good day. After a while he wanted to go back to his room, though, so we had to get him to open his presents before he left :)
Always a Tiger's fan :)

I think his favorite gift was that little panda :)

Great Grandpa and 3 of his kids...and the panda

The panda showed up in our family picture too :) At least the panda is looking at the camera...Eli is playing shy...or stubborn. Not sure which.

The kids went to look at the fish.

Randee got them to make fish faces.

Not bad, Caleb!

Cutie :)

It is always nice to see Great Grandpa. The past few years as we gather for Christmas it has been hard to see Grandpa get older. I will always remember him reading the Christmas story each year-his voice so strong and sure. I know it is a gift to be able to spend time with this wonderful man of God. These times with family are amazingly special.

And so 2011 ends...with family together. Can't think of a better way to spend the last day of 2011!

12.30.2011 Christmas Morning

'Christmas' morning came nice and early. The kids were excited to see what was under the tree. The kids ate some breakfast first...opening presents takes a while at Grandpa & Grandma's house, so ya gotta eat something first.
I think Parker wants to skip breakfast and go right to the presents...

A little exercise before the presents.

Reading the Christmas story.

All ready to open!

Enjoy some pics of the kiddos opening their gifts.

With cameras everywhere, sometimes you just take the shot you can get :)

SONIC!

Just like his daddy's hat

One of the favorite gifts of the day. Grandma made Caleb (and Ben) an Angry Bird hat. He LOVED it...and asked for the black bird and the blue bird...and Ben wants the yellow bird and the green bird...and Carly wants the black bird and the pig...and Eli got a red bird after I requested one too. SO grandma has been crocheting like crazy to keep up with the orders :)

Great Grandpa & Grandma were there too.

Caleb got the PB&J...I don't think he was hungry, so Renae ate it :)

Stockings

Tutus made by Grandma

Because Ryan, Jennifer, Ben and Carly couldn't come this year, we took some time to get on Skype with them and watch them open their gifts. It was very nice to do that, though they were greatly missed!

It was a very fun morning, and a wonderful day of hanging out together.

Merry Christmas!

12.29.2011 A Busy Day...Part 3 (The final chapter...)

After the kids went to bed, the adults got some snacks out, some sparkling grape juice, and had our Christmas celebration...minus the kids. What a good lookin' bunch :)
But a little crazy at times ;)

The toast.

A sign of the times...Dad read the Christmas story off of Johnny's new iPad.

Johnny got several boxes of Fudge Rounds...which apparently have become hard to find.

Edgar opening the 'Best Remote Ever'. He was pretty surprised and excited to get it :)

This was the year of shoes. I think everyone got at least one pair of footwear except mom.

Dad got a bunch of sunglasses from Renae & Josh :)

Pictures like these...

...make me believe these two were meant for each other :)

Wouldn't want to run into this guy...

This is one of the (many) hats my mom made. It's AWESOME. If I lived up north I would totally want one of these.

Mom got a TV for the craft room...so she won't have to miss a minute of Bill O'Reily while she sews away :)

It was a very nice evening, full of wonderful gifts, but more importantly, wonderful time with family. It's so much fun to be together! The gifts are just a bonus :)

12.29.2011 A Busy Day...Part 2

After a busy day of playing it was time to open the 'Christmas Eve' gifts. But first, posing for a picture is very important ;)

Brotherly love :)

OPEN! This is the only time the kids all get to open their gifts at the same time...no waiting. They loved it!

PAJAMAS! Eli LOVES his! I wonder why...

Parker and his Elmo jammies.

Leah enjoying her snugly pj's.

Keira posing like a little model. This is high fashion, I tell you!

Adriana & Chloe got matching pajamas...cute!

All the grand kids! And we couldn't leave out Ben and Carly :)

After the pj's were opened they watched Cars 2 on Grandpa & Grandma's giant bed.

They were glued to the TV (until the dvd stopped working...)

Eli was very pensive as the movie played... :)

The kids headed off to bed, excited for the coming morning.

The adults stayed up for a fun evening of their own...coming soon in 'A Busy Day...Part 3'. (Are you on the edge of your seat yet?)