What Christmas Break Looks Like......

 Lots of Morning Exercise shoveling the steep driveway!

(This goes way fast now with both of us shoveling and with our new snow clips- no sliding whatsoever.)

 Forget Video Games!  We love to make Sand Art with our neighborhood friends!

 SLEDDING FUN!

Alyssa posing in her new coat before we take off for the park behind our home.

 We play board games (like Jenga) with our friends!

 

 Our sweet little KLEIN was blessed in his home.  

We LOVE this family!

 And yes, more shoveling the driveway.  Let it snow because next week, we will start using our Sundance Ski Passes!  

YAAAAYYYYY!

Having Ourselves A Merry Little Christmas!

 Merry Christmas Lindsay Kids and Carson!

2012

 Since my husband had only ONE task to do to prepare for Christmas (build the doll house hidden at Grandma's house), I assumed this would be the year where we would all enjoy a good night's rest so we could be present for our children the entire Christmas day.

I was wrong.

We were up until 3:00am building the stupid doll house on the kitchen floor (it's hardwood, Dave, HARDwood) and talking with Cindy.  The kids awoke around 7:00am.  We found Grandma Barbie and Poppie had been waiting outside since 6:20am so our morning began a little sluggish.

The kids were thrilled with the gifts from Santa!  Underwear, socks, games, jewelry for Taylor, books for everyone and Alyssa got a new coat and boots!  Santa also was prepared with oranges, candy, CTR pencils and bookmarks with pictures of Christ for all of us.  

 Then is was time for our gifts to the children.  Here is Alyssa unfolding Dave's masterpiece!

 (Don't we look awake, alive and alert?)

 Jaxson received a Galaxy Tablet from us.  He was shocked and elated!  We spent the day loading books on the kindle app as well as puzzles for him to put together on his new gadget.  Oh yeah, and parental locks as well!

 I think we put Poppie asleep......

Austin got Skylanders from mom and dad!  Yay---more video games!  Yay----more leverage for mom when asking Austin to get stuff done!

Most of Taylor's gifts from us were clothes and a DVD.  She is beginning to really love fashion and asked for new outfits.  SOOO fun to shop for her! 

Dave was in bed and zonked out by 9:00am and I entertained the family until around 1:45pm when Dave arose.  Then I slept for a few hours.

We wrapped up Christmas Day with a yummy spread of shrimp, crackers and cheese ball, potato bar and ham. Then we watched a video I had made for cousin Carson highlighting the years of fun memories with him and our family.  It was another beautiful Christmas day, one that I will remember for years to come.

Christmas Eve

 Christmas Eve Day was spent with our cousin, Carson.  While the kids played games, Dave and I shoveled us out of our home.  We had so much snow! 

I had tickets to see "Wreck It Ralph" at 11:15 at the dollar theater so we slid there in the suburban on the icy roads.  The kids LOVED the movie!  It was the first movie Jaxson did not move through in his entire life! :) 

After the movie, we came home and I went to work preparing the veggie platter for the evening meal at Grandma Barbie's house:

Grandma's house was filled with yummy food and lots of presents.  Like my mother, Barbara has a special way of making experiences magical for our family. 

 For dinner, we ate Yukon potatoes with cheese and bacon, cranberry chicken, ham and lots of dips for veggies and chips.  For dessert, we enjoyed key lime, cherry and apple pies.

Present Time!  After Dave shared a spiritual thought, we tore into our gifts.

CHRISTMAS EVE COMES TO A CLOSE

 After singing Christmas carols all the way home from Grandma's house to ours, we posed quickly for our traditional pictures and all the kids left for the boys' room to sleep, but not without stories from mom!

 Santa Claus is coming tonight!