Christmas 2011

The Holidays are a big deal in this house.  From Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve, it's all about traditions, dinners, parties, movies, story books, decorations and giving. We have a big turkey dinner on Christmas Eve, which I didn't get any pictures of, but it's great.  Jared cooks all day with Christmas music on, and the kids can't wait for bedtime.  All the kids (except Soph) have a "sleepover" together on Christmas Eve, this year they were in Kelsey & Emma's room.  At 1AM when I was finally going to bed Kels & Emma were still awake!  Church was at 1:00, so that gave us enough time to open gifts, eat a big breakfast (another tradition) and get ready and to church on time.           

The kids all got bikes (not Sophie), and this is the only picture I really got of them. =] Kelsey and Emma haven't had a decent bike since they were 7 or 8.  

Mallory had a very Barbie Christmas this year!

Mallory also lost a tooth on Christmas Eve.  A visit from the Tooth Fairy AND Santa in one night?! How lucky is that? The tooth fairy gave her two dollars, a locket and a special note.  It was pretty loose, then Mal got too close to her sisters who were playing 'Just Dance 3' on the Wii & got smacked in the mouth.  That did it!

Ashton was pretty excited to get one of the new Nerf guns.

Conner got the Optimus Prime toy he asked for.

I don't have too many pictures of Kelsey & Emma from Christmas morning.  Besides their bikes, they got rollerblades, clothes, shoes, perfume and make-up.  Nice Lancome make up, which they were pretty excited about!  They also helped Mallory get all her stickers on her Barbie house.  They are such good girls!

Does Ashton look excited? Maybe a little.......

Sophie started to figure out how things go - it was fun to watch her open a gift by herself.

We got a quick picture of the kids in their new Sunday clothes after church.  What a bunch of good looking kids!

We spent the rest of the day cooking, cleaning, playing, and visiting.  It was a great Christmas, although we all wished for some snow - we've hardly had ANY.  And the day is always over too quick.