A fun filled family christmas......

Christmas 2009 has come and gone.......leaving faster then the time it took to get here. I love watching the kids on Christmas with their big saucer eyes. I "love" hearing 1/2 dozen times throughout the night....."is it time to get up yet?"......I love when you send them down to check things out, the EXCITEMENT you can hear from the note that Santa left.....and it's better when they run up to show it to you. I will miss this when my kids get older.....I'm wishing it would last forever.

We started Christmas Eve off with our other family......the Frasers.....and had an awesome potluck.....I will post the pictures of the kids with baby Hayden in another post.....they couldn't believe how tiny he was. I think Georgia thought he was a doll.....she wanted to squeeze him all night. From there we went to the live nativity pageant at the church. It was a little chilly but always fun to watch. It was here we also found out the news that we are getting a NEW brother in law......congrats to Laura and Jeremy!!! I knew it was going to happen and glad that she said yes.....didn't really think she would say no. After we stopped at Jeff's parents for some yummy snacks and the kids got to play with some of their cousins for a little bit before heading home to bed. It was a long night of last minute prep stuff for the next day but we got to bed earlier then expected.

We had many "visitors" throughout the night but managed to stay in bed until 5:51am. The next couple of hours were filled with many smiles and lots of excitement. Santa was really good to the kids this year......the oldest 3 all got Nintendo DS and Georgia got a Leapster. She calls it a DS.......it's too cute!!! It had some issues though and had to be exchanged so it was a long couple of days of her not being able to play Dora. Cooper seemed to enjoy his first Christmas. He hung out on Nanny Nelson's lap most of the time.......loving the spoon he got in his stocking. He would have been thrilled with just those. He did get some fun things and really enjoyed the Sophie Giraffe that he got from Nanny Jackie and Pop later in the day. We were really glad that Jeff's parents could come for breakfast and watch the kids open their gifts. The kids love that they are here. Jeff treated me with a new lens (55-250mm IS) for my camera (plus some other goodies).....really it was the only thing I told him I wanted, hoping he would get it......but I'm super excited to have it. I'm sure he'll use it lots too.We tested it out on boxing day and I LOVE IT!!! I managed to surprise him with a new tent.....he's had one on his wishlist that is just a small tent he wants to use for kayaking trips. I had to wrap it in a blanket and bring it up last as I didn't have a box big enough to wrap it in. I'm really surprised he didn't see it but it must have just blended in well with our other camping gear. Guess I'm getting good at hiding things.....almost too good as I was on the hunt pre christmas for some lost items!!!

Later in the day all of my family came for dinner and more gift opening. We had a 30 lb turkey this year and the new oven cooked it to perfection. We had lots leftover but tonight managed to finish it off in some pot pies. Jeff out does himself on the holiday meals and this was another fantastic one......along with the yummy trifle I made ;) I am thankful for this holiday season, for the real meaning of Christmas, for the time we get to spend with family and friends, for lots and lots of good food and the kids......they really make Christmas awesome!!! Mike and Keah got some cute twin stuff from Karen......it really makes us more excited for next year......the babies will add some excitement to the house. I know my kids will love having them over......maybe we'll even sneak them some trifle......enjoy the pictures to follow......I'll post some of the Boxing Day photos on another post.....it was another fun day of family time!!! Hope that Christmas was special in some way for everyone......it was indeed another special one here!!!


Santa has been here......


Good night......


Santa put Dora in my stocking!!!!

Are you watching me???

Maybe if I yawn she won't see me grab the treats.....

A happy boy on his FIRST Christmas.....

Is this really a red DS??? She wasn't sure at first.....

She was convinced Santa doesn't play tricks....

Phew......I got one too!!! Thanks Santa!!!

This little one was so excited to get a "DS".....

Me and my new toy......I don't think Jake is too excited about it....

Jeff and his new tent......

The 29.15 lb turkey......delicious!!!

Cooper showing off the chubs....

Poppy and Georgia reading Dora

My side of the family....still growing.....

Auntie Karen and her new friend Chloe....so she can play!!!

Nanny was excited to finally have a teacher bell......

it went with her PIT game.....