Well it has come and gone just like that! I was able to take a couple of days off right before Christmas to stay home with the kids and do lots of fun stuff like wrap presents, bake cookies, and watch Christmas movies with the kiddos all snuggled up on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa! The excitement of Christmas is almost too much for Carter to handle. I am so happy they are filled with Christmas spirit and I know soon enough they will grow out of it so I must treasure every minute of this time with them!
That night we went to church for an amazing service and drove through Jolly Holiday Lights at Water works park.
On Christmas morning, the kids find one Santa gift under the tree and a filled stocking above the fireplace. Santa always leaves something for the big kids too! I got a new watch, a gift card for a massage, and an Amazon gift card! Jeremy got Bruce Springsteen's The Promise, coffee, and a gift card from Amazon too! Carter got a Nintendo DSi XL and a couple of games. Santa left Claire a bouncy house in our living room! Late that morning we head to Griswold to Jeremy's mom for more presents and lunch. Then we head to the country to my mom and dad's for more presents and dinner. We were able to spend the night this year at Grandma and Grandpa Berry's since the weather was so much better than last year! We were also able to stop by and see my grandparents on the way home Sunday. They were both doing good and so excited to see us!
Notice Claire is wearing the same dress up outfit from the night before? Yep, couldn't get if off of her before bed!
Claire intently watching Carter master Super Mario Bros on his DS
We spent Wednesday before Christmas making cookies for Santa. It is the one time of year I let them go wild in the kitchen! Flour everywhere, frosting everywhere, sprinkles everywhere. Carter kept asking me if it was okay to get messy. YES!! I have a big container of cookie cutters for the kids to choose from. Claire picked only hearts, and wanted pink frosting and pink sprinkles. Not too Christmasy but these cookies definitely have Claire written all over them!
Check out all the flour on his shirt!
We spent the rest of the afternoon wrapping up presents. Each year I have taken Carter to the dollar store and let him pick out a present for everyone in our family. He does a great job picking out thoughtful gifts! It's also his job to wrap them!
That night we went to church for an amazing service and drove through Jolly Holiday Lights at Water works park.
Carter snapped this picture of Claire and I after church!
Christmas eve we had our traditional dinner complete with prime rib and crab legs. We stuffed ourselves silly but were able to waddle our way to the living room to open some presents. Our tradition has been to only give 3 gifts. On Christmas eve, the kids get to open a gift from each other, and a gift from us. Then we are always blessed with gifts from friends and neighbors that we open then as well. Carter got a new game and a bow and arrow set. Claire got some dress up clothes and an aquadoodle. We stayed up late watching "A Christmas Story" and then hurried the kids off to bed so Santa could come!
On Christmas morning, the kids find one Santa gift under the tree and a filled stocking above the fireplace. Santa always leaves something for the big kids too! I got a new watch, a gift card for a massage, and an Amazon gift card! Jeremy got Bruce Springsteen's The Promise, coffee, and a gift card from Amazon too! Carter got a Nintendo DSi XL and a couple of games. Santa left Claire a bouncy house in our living room! Late that morning we head to Griswold to Jeremy's mom for more presents and lunch. Then we head to the country to my mom and dad's for more presents and dinner. We were able to spend the night this year at Grandma and Grandpa Berry's since the weather was so much better than last year! We were also able to stop by and see my grandparents on the way home Sunday. They were both doing good and so excited to see us! Notice Claire is wearing the same dress up outfit from the night before? Yep, couldn't get if off of her before bed!The kids again were spoiled rotten and it took two cars to get everything home! Claire got a My Loving Family Dollhouse from Grandma and Grandpa Berry with Aunt Darcie helping to furnish it. This thing is the bomb of doll houses and everyone is loving playing with it. The stove makes sizzling noises, the bassinet plays music for the babies, the minivan plays music! I love having someone to play house with now! It is much more fun than playing house for real! Claire also got a play tea set, new clothes for her babies, and new clothes for herself Carter got 2 huge army sets, complete with tanks, helicopters and more army men than he can count! He also got some new Husker pj's, a toss across game, transformers, and some legos. The each got a pillow pet from Aunt Nancy and Uncle Al too!
We all got an extra bonus this year as I entered Claire in a Bad Santa photo contest through a local radio station. After harassing everyone I know and many people I didn't know, we WON! So we have a nice little gift card to the local mall to spend! I am thinking through very carefully about what we want and need before making any decisions on how to use this! I'll keep you posted!
Hope everyone had a great Christmas and wishing everyone many blessings in 2011!
