Christmas Morning

What a beautiful Christmas morning! We woke up to crumbs from the cookies Santa ate and the carrots the reindeer devoured on our front porch.
The kids were so excited, gracious and thankful. We're doing something right!
We enjoyed celebrating with just the four of us. Even the animals felt the excitement and enjoyed their gifts. And then we had a marvelous Christmas breakfast when Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Papa, Uncle Mark, Grandpa and Grandma Simon came over!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a dream. It was right out of a storybook.
After a fabulous dinner with Grandpa and Gradma Simon, Uncle Mark and Nana and Papa we attended a beautiful Christmas Eve service. Then the kids got in to their Christmas PJ's. Then we made hot chocolate and the kids came in to the living room where Tim read "The Night Before Christmas" to them.


Then Collin and Kayla exchanged the gifts they had picked out for eachother.



Then the stockings were hung by the chimney with care.


The kids put out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots and special reindeer food that Collin made at preschool.
Then we had carolers!!!
For the first time ever! And they were fabulous singers!
And they gave us a wooden nativity scene!


And then the kids went to bed, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Early Christmas

Since Chris and Kelsey were headed to TX this year for Christmas, we all got together for an early celebration before they left. Lots of fun!











Collin made this Christmas tree at preschool. He was so proud of it.
Then Abby ate it. :(

Play Structure

Yay- it is up and in use! I don't know how much I'll see my kids anymore... they want to be out there constantly and are about to eat their lunch in their fort.
All that's left are the decorative pieces that go up under the roof of the fort.
We'll put those up today.
Just in time for Collin's big birthday party this Saturday!