Christmas at the Grandparents house

Monday, after Christmas Day, we headed down to my parents house to celebrate with them and my brothers family. With all 11 of us, there were LOTS of presents! So fun for the kids and us too.

Grace was the big helper this year, passing out gifts to everyone. Check out how patient the kids are waiting to open their gifts.
Kya is half way hidden behind her presents in between my brother and dad.

Kya received the big gift this year! Almost as big as her and Grace.

Her very own vanity!

After opening gifts, most of the time was spent outside enjoying their new razors.

Grandpa and all of his grandkids.

and one of us!

Christmas Day

My parents stayed the night so that they could watch the kids open up their Christmas gifts. Each child received on gift from Santa along with their stocking and then 3 gifts from us. They weren't going to be able to open gifts from Grandpa and Grandma until Monday when we all gathered with my brother and family.

Seth received his much loved Woody doll.
Kya is our little artist, so she got her own easel. One side is for magnets and dry erase markers and the other is for chalk. There are also clips on each side to hold paper and four bin to hold all her artsy stuff.

And Elsie got a horse in a bag. She was our most excited child this Christmas and she could hardly contain herself. She even started riding her horse!

With Grandma getting ready to open stockings.

Elsie gets ready to open her gifts while Grandpa and Daddy look on.

Seth poses for the camera while mommy passes out the gifts.

After opening up our gifts, we ate breakfast and then got ready to head on down to Aunt Pam's for dinner and a gift exchange.

Christmas Eve Lights

On Christmas Eve, we invited my parents over for dinner and to join us in our annual tradition of walking through a local neighborhood all decked out in lights for the season. We ate winter stew before letting the kids open one gift each (pj's!) and putting out cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer. Then the kids put on their new jammie's and we headed on out.

Waiting to open their gift.
My parents and Wayne with the kids in front of one of the homes.

I love the sign "Dear Santa, I can explain"

Elsie just about drove me crazy with her purple obsession this night. She had to touch each and every purple light before we could move on.

Walking down the street. It turned out to be a bit warmer than years past, so the kids started to remove their scarves, hats and gloves throughout the night.

There was this one guy sitting out in front of his house dress up like Santa Claus! And much to my surprise, Elsie went right up to him and gave him a big 'ol hug while yelling "Santa, I'm not afraid of you anymore!" Too cute!!! And then the kids told him that there was some cookies waiting for him at our house. I hope my kids never stop believing. :-)

The kids wanted to pose with these cut out angels and I of course like the saying. "Peace On Earth".

By the time we got home, all 3 kids were sound asleep, making me that much happier that I had decided to put them in their jammies before we left the house. Then it was time for my mom and I to finish wrapping gifts and for Wayne to put together Kya's easel.

Christmas Eve Eve

On the Thursday before Christmas, Wayne's brothers family came over to celebrate. We had homemade lasagna, salad and bread with Eileen's yummy chocolate/cream cheese cake. Seth was anxious to show off his (actually Wayne's) new electric guitar, so most everyone headed on down to the basement for a mini jam session and then we got to open our presents.

Usually we have them over after New Years, but I really enjoyed them coming over early this year and am hoping it can continue.

Seth is enamored with his big cousin Erica who happened to just turn 20!

My little model!

I love how I caught him one morning in a daze while checking out our tree. May he always look so innocent!