Celebrating!!!!!

DISCLAIMER:  this is mostly family photos and videos...

Since Christmas was on a Sunday this year, we decided to change things up a bit.  We pushed our tree and christmas day traditions to Monday.  At first I was disappointed, but it's really only a mind game - what does it matter what day you celebrate on?  And this way, our celebration ended up being longer and slower - it was lovely!

Sunday morning we let the kids open one present.  It was a Melissa and Doug wooden nativity set.  They loved it and played w/it all morning leading up to church.  Church was wonderful - small, laid back, merry and worshipful.  It was really great getting to see people on Christ's birth and wishing Merry, Merry and all that.

After, our friends hosted a brunch for those who didn't have other plans.  There were 9 adults and 7 kids.  The food was amazing, there was a fire going and the kids had a blast together.

playing operation

reading w/daddy

the boys all "herding their sheep"

handsome boy eating his lunch

We stayed most of the afternoon and then loaded the kids into the car for a drive around the Cape to look at Christmas lights.  The kids were all snoring within minutes so Justin and I were able to enjoy a 25 min. quiet drive!  

This is the tree in Rockport's square, outside the restaurant we had our rehearsal dinner at.  We reminisced about seeing it w/snow falling all around it 7 years ago.

When we got home, Justin still had to wrap his presents (this he does every year on Christmas Eve...) so the children and I went to the church basement to run like crazy.  It was a blast.  They've asked to go back down there just about every night since.  Once we ran them ragged, it was a quick dinner and off to bed!  Justin and I stuffed the stockings, filled the tree and then settled down to watch Elf.

Christmas morning we heard the kids start whispering around 7.  We laid in bed and listened to them, knowing they were peaking outside their door to the stuffed stockings hanging on the banister.  Sam wasn't up yet so we just let them talk and play, turning on the heat and coffee and talking in bed.  When Sam got up, we went and got everyone.  It's tradition to open stockings on our bed - and yes, every stocking present is wrapped and yes, we rotate pulling out one item at a time.

Addison already discussed the order of events the evening before...  "First mommy, you and daddy come wake us up and we get our stockings and go open them on your bed.  Then we'll go downstairs and play w/our stocking stuff while you cook breakfast.  Then we'll do the Christmas story and then we'll GO OUT TO THE CHRISTMAS TREE!!!!  HA AH AH AH AH HA HA!!"  (imagine that getting faster and faster and louder and louder)  Yep, he's our planner.  So the kids did their coloring books and such while we made dutch blitz pancakes, pineapple, pomegranites and eggnog.

doll house people

castle book

this was a huge hit, Kristin!

walking pony

veggietales worship cd

new apron...

(that she wore ALL day, juanita!)

daddy's kindle

this one plays with the house WAY more than eli.  i try to not take it personally and know that one day she will love it :) oh, and a whole other post on the befores and afters of the doll house to come!  i worked on and that sucker!

this guy, however,  has not stopped playing with his castle!

The opening ended near noon and we had a great afternoon of playing, relaxing, leftovers and naps.  We got the kids up early to go for a Christmas walk.  We popped popcorn to give the birdies and animals a Christmas treat!

scattering popcorn

While I cooked our Jesus's birthday dinner, everyone played!!

Then it was time to eat!!  Lasagna, salad, crescent rolls, wine, jello salad and "spicy drink" (punch)  We always have this dinner w/candlelight and this year ended with the children picking out presents "for Jesus".  They picked 2 chickens for a family and 2 soccer balls for a school from the World Vision catalogue.

our centerpiece - felted wool by my talented friend, deanne

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!