Christmas Day

Christmas day is always one of very favorites!

Bryan and I actually set our alarm pretty early on Christmas morning, so we can wake up before the kids, have coffee, talk, and watch the sun come up.  It is so, so sweet.

Jackson was pretty excited to see what Santa brought!

His faces are my favorite!

Excited about socks...it doesn't get any better!

Sarah loved all of her gifts, but her favorites were a new typewriter

and a vintage suitcase!

The lego set that J opened on Christmas Eve...already finished!

After gifts, we celebrated the real reason of Christmas--Jesus' birthday!

And after we ate the birthday cake for Jesus, he started on one of the new lego sets that he got just moments before!

Christmas Day, we spent with Bryan's family.  Then, on the way home, we stopped at the town tree to snap a couple of pictures.

It was a great day!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was so sweet.  We went to church service, then Bryan and Sarah made dinner, and then the kids each opened one present.

Jackson was just a bit excited!

Sarah was excited too--just a bit more understated!

After gifts, Jackson left cookies and milk out for Santa!

Jammies and Christmas Lights

On Monday night, we did one of our favorite traditions--matching jammies, hot chocolate, and looking at Christmas lights!

Well, the matching jammies are only my favorite!

Class Play and Party

Last week, on Jackson's last day of school before Christmas break, his class put on a play and then had a party!

J was St. Patrick,

and he was adorable!

He had a blast at the party!

Gingerbread Houses

A couple of weekends ago, we had our annual gingerbread house contest!  And as usual, there were lots of laughs, and lots of trash talk!

Notice, we all have hot chocolate...except for Papa Bear! 

Our finished creations!

Bryan's house.

He always makes his so fancy!

My house--I always make mine traditional!

Sarah's house.

Her roof was amazing!

Jackson's house.

J added a star on top!

Christmas Gifts

Yesterday, I wrapped all the kids' Christmas gifts!  I was so excited to be finished, but afterwards, I hid them again instead of putting them under the tree...Sarah and Jackson are great at shaking their presents and correctly guessing what they are!

Christmas Concert

Jackson's in choir this year, and yesterday, they took a field trip to a local hospital and a few nursing homes to sing Christmas carols!  Their first stop was at the hospital that Bryan works at, and he got to go see them!

In the days leading up to the field trip, J was so excited!  But he said his favorite part of the trip was seeing Daddy!

Hot Chocolate Bar

This week with dinner, we had our first hot chocolate bar of the month!  It's always our favorite, and I never quite feel like it's December until we make cocoa!

Ugly Sweaters

Over the weekend, we went to our Supper Club Christmas dinner, and we were supposed to wear our ugly sweaters.  I wore Bryan's sweater, and this is what he wore...

Christmas Tree

For some reason, we were so late getting our house decorated for Christmas this year!  Sunday after church, we finally put the ornaments on the tree!

Jackson was so excited!

After putting about 5 of his ornaments on the tree, Jackson said he was tired and bailed!  So, Bryan and I finished the decorating!

Pip Namebe is Back

We've been so slow getting our Christmas stuff out this year, and J kept asking where Pip Namebe was.

Well, he finally came back yesterday, and he wanted to ride to school to pick up Jackson with me!

Jackson was thrilled!

And this morning, he brought the kids chocolate milk and donuts...something else Jack has been asking about!

Darth

Jackson came downstairs and said, "This is what Darth Vader looks like in the morning."

I'm going to miss it when he stops dressing up like Darth!