Christmas

Christmas Eve

I NEVER decorate our table. In fact, we're doing well if we put out a full set of silverware and paper napkins. But every Christmas Eve we have a nice meal with candlelight and I try to fancy up the table some. I thought I'd take a photo this year.

Most of our traditions take place on Christmas Eve. After dinner, we opened one gift...it's always a game that we then play together, we decorated cookies for Santa, we lit a fire in the fireplace and watched The Polar Express. And of course, we read the nativity, watched the video and talked about it some. I love Christmas Eve, there's something magical about it!

Santa Claus
Christmas morning we opened Santa's gifts and the stocking stuffers first. Then we ate an awesome breakfast cooked by Dave. Bacon, eggs, toast, home-made hot chocolate. Yumm! Next we opened the gifts under the tree.

Andrew asked Santa for "a motorcycle with a helmet so I can ride it."
Thank you Santa for being creative! This is actually a really fun toy! And Andrew loves to pretend he's driving his 'motorcycle' around the house.

Evan asked Santa for "a really cool race track." Once again Santa was creative and Evan loves this awesome marble roller coaster set. (He already has way too many 'race tracks'.)

We've spent hours making track. . .

after track. . .

after track.

Christmas Morning Photos
We took a lot of photos. I couldn't decide which ones to post so there is a bunch!
(P.S. I realize Evan almost always has his shirt off! I blame the hot summer days. Since then, I have not been able to convince him to wear a shirt to bed, so I apologize. I should have put a shirt on him for the photos. Oops! He does have clothes, I promise!)

We thought we'd keep Christmas small this year, but the gifts really piled up and the boys got spoiled for sure!

Evan and Dave hauled the trash out in the wagon. Can you tell we're ready for naps already?

Grandpa Clay and Grandma Lizz came over for Christmas Day leftovers and cheer! Yeah! I love having some family around!

We took time to snap a rare photo of our whole family.
Merry Christmas everyone!!

(I am still working on Christmas cards...we'll see if they make it out this year.)