Christmas 101

Well, Christmas in (what feels like) 101 pictures!  We celebrated Christmas here in Colorado much the same way we did last year.  We figured, it worked out so perfectly the last time- why change it?  We did add a few extras into the mix, but Christmas is Christmas.  Check it out- photo rundown style.

We spent Christmas Eve with the Blaine and Michelle Richardson family again this year.  Good food.  Good family.  And new this year, a Richardson production of the Nativity starring:  Gavin as Joseph, Kimberley as Mary, Eve as Baby Jesus, Asher and Oliver as shepherds (Asher wasn't exactly compliant), Tristan as a wise man, and Emma as the angel.  A shout out to the costumers, namely Michelle and I.  I'd say it turned out pretty great.

Then for the traditional "secret" Christmas jammies that were non too secret.  Especially this year.  I did make them myself this year (thanks to Maria's coaching and the use of her surger), but I did use Gavin as my model several times throughout the process.  Thus, the "secret."  Either way, they turned out cute and the kids liked them.

 It took some doing to get Emma off the IPhone and interested in opening presents, but we succeeded eventually.

 And the completed look.

Notice anything peculiar in picture A.  Yeah.  Like father, like son.  Picture B is not much better, but better still.

Then it was time to feed the reindeer (thanks Grandma Tina for the reindeer food (oatmeal) that got sprinkled all over the lawn!) and Santa.  A tray complete with all of our favorite things.  It was a quick reading of the Night Before Christmas and then the kiddos were tucked off to bed- but not before hearing the bells on Santa's sleigh out in the yard.

As for the adults, we gathered together again for some fancy cheeses and adult socialization.  Jed even came to join the fun- but alas, no pictures.

Christmas morning, afternoon and evening were a blur of events.  The boys peeked at their Santa before the big moment, so we took a while to discipline that.  But we did eventually have our moment.  Not before creating a little Christmas miracle of our own though.  Seems we left the water running in the kitchen sink and it spilled over creating "rain" in the downstairs.  What a mess.

It eventually stopped, we got it all cleaned up, and it was back to Christmas as usual.  See for yourself.

Emma got a plethera of goods, but we made the mistake of opening the doll house first.  She is such a girl.  We could have skipped the rest of the gifts and she never would have noticed.  We didn't though and here is what she ended up with:

A close second to the doll house would have been this hat.  She wore it for the opening of almost every present.  She LOVES hats.  Something about being pretty- who could have given her a complex like that?!

Tristan scored a bundle as well, but the most desired present turned out to be his monkey pillow pet.  Don't ask me how hard I tried to talk the boys out of those.  To no avail.  They both wanted one.  Correction- they both wanted MONKEYS.  And they both got them.  But that wasn't all Tristan got- check it out:

And Gavin...

Gavin is currently obsessed with Ironman- thus the getup.  I'd have to say it topped the other gifts in rank of favorites.  Here is what it competed with:

But, it would seem that nothing can compare to the ideas daddy comes up with at the last minute.  This year they included:  Edge hats like daddy and a mini fuse ball table.  Maybe daddy should be in charge of all the Christmas shopping next year!

FYI We did do our Santa moment this year, but just so happened to only get it on video.  In case you are wondering- he brought the boys both Leapsters and Emma a little pink laptop.  Even neater, (I think) we started a new tradition in our family this year.  On Christmas Eve, the kiddos scour their toy room coming up with a bag full of toys they do not need and want to share.  They leave this bag of toys for Santa to bring to those kids who could use them more and who need a special Christmas.  It tops my list of favorite Christmas traditions, that is for sure (even though this is our first year.)

All in all, it was a wonderful day with the family.  We definitely could get used to this!