December 10th-24th 2013

The title of this post is a date, I am aware of that.  That is because between getting home from California and it being Christmas was completely crazy. It went so fast and there was so much to do and accomplish.  

Birthday party for Papa

Putting up the Christmas tree

Sending out Christmas cards

AHHH!!!! (this is how I felt most of the month)

Making a gingerbread house

Skiing!!!

hot chocolate in the lodge

Dressed for the Christmas concert at school

Making candies. This was so much easier this year with the kids helping. They loved opening all the rolos for me.

We painted a canvas for our wall. We couldn't find anything big enough for the space that was affordable so we saw an idea on Pinterest and just made our own.  

 

New carpet to match the new decor

 Christmas cards all hung

Presents ready for Christmas morning

Christmas Concert

The kids had a holiday concert at daycare.  They were so cute.  Audrey's song was just a little repetitive but she loved it.  They did a great job.

Merry Christmas 2012!

Stockings at 630 AM!

Wigs from Madagascar 3 

Silver Coins

Audrey's "big" Santa gift

Colin's "big" Santa gift

Nala loves Christmas and loves opening presents

Audrey got some new paint(we already had the easel). This was the first thing that she wanted to get out and play with. She was mostly concerned with opening.  She would have opened everything under the tree in five minutes if we let her.  

 Tea Party

New sleeping bag

We've played this game every night since Christmas.  He loves it. 

Headlamp and Camelbak

"I love it" Colin said when he opened up this soap with a car inside. He then begged for 2 hours to take a bath

Dress up

The kids got this from Uncle Billy and Courtney.  They love it.  

Christmas Eve 2012

On Christmas Eve, Paul and I both worked.  Paul got out at 1130 and took the kids home.  I got out at one and was able to get home while the kids were napping.  We all got around and headed to the 5 o'clock service at church.  They must have been behind schedule(there were 4 services) because it didn't start until 520.  

The kids got a little antsy in the lobby. (Colin was a little grumpy)

Happier!

They liked the reindeer decor

After church, we headed over to Tara's for dinner and to decorate cookies.  It was fun to do this all together with a bunch of people.  

Audrey LOVES to paint and that includes "painting" cookies

Everyone busy at work

The finished product

We're continuing on the Christmas eve tradition of opening a pair of pajamas.  I decided to add in a Christmas book also.  I was able to get them to smile for nice pictures when I was bribing them with their presents.  

Presents!

I tried to get a pic with the kids but it didn't go very well.

We're not very photogenic

After the kids went to bed and Santa came....(and grandma, and grandpa, and mimi, and papa, and Aunt Jen, and Aunt Tina, and Uncle Adam).  The tree fills up quickly when the gifts from EVERYONE are under it.