Christmas 2013

Is it really over? A quick recap of our holidays! The week before Christmas Claire had a Christmas program at preschool. She was the very adorable reindeer Blitzen and did a great job belting out all the Christmas tunes she had been rehearsing and rehearsing and rehearsing (you get the idea) for weeks! 

The weekend before the big man came, we had to bake his favorite cookies, as we know we have the best recipe around thanks to our dear friend Megan Summers! 

Poor Santa, these are sure to put him in a diabetic coma! 

With Christmas falling during the middle of the week and my work schedule, we attended the Christmas eve church service on the eve of Christmas eve. I always look forward to this and love its reminder of what Christmas is all about. It brings tears to my eyes every time they play out the nativity scene and end with silent night by candlelight. I suspect there was close to 1000 people at that one service and not many leave without wiping a tear from their eye. 

Christmas eve Jeremy whipped up his famous prime rib and crab leg candlelight dinner for us. So yummy!

After dinner the kids get to open their gifts from each other and us. 

 Showing off their excitement before the big opening! But first we need our jammies on! 

Claire sprinkling her reindeer food for Rudolf and the crew to find our new house! 

The next morning they open their Santa gift and we head out to the grandparents, making stop at Jeremy's mom's for brunch then my parents for dinner.

Christmas always feels like a whirlwind! Prep, prep, prep, then it is over! We were once again blessed with too much stuff! Some of the favorites this year: Jeremy: wrestling room decor, money, Husker sign, Dana: New pots and pans, kindle fire, watch, Carter: PS3 games, skateboard, new bat, stuffed animals, Claire: What she thinks is an American Girl doll (knock off Target instead), arts and crafts, a horse stable and Barbie Dream house, Case: Tools, tools and more tools, dress up clothes. It may be months before I find a home for all this stuff!