Christmas Fun with Nana and Cousins

With so many things different this year, it was nice to do some things the same.  We missed Papa, but it was so wonderful to have Christmas Eve all together, and really nice to meet up again on Christmas Day.

For some reason Ryan and Britney's family and our family arrive at Nana's within 10 minutes of each other.  This year it was 1-2 minutes.  It's crazy, but we sure love this accidental tradition.

More legos for the boys, 

And the girls got doll accessories-a tea set (porcelain) for Eme, 

and a baking set for Maddie.

Eric even managed to bring over some of the drawers he's been trying to finish forever.  We headed home for our traditional Christmas Day dinner-roast w/mashed potatoes, rolls, jello salad, and pie!!  All in all a wonderful day, we were able to feel the peace of the season so perfectly.

Christmas Morning is Magical

In the past we've had to wake our little ones up, but not anymore.  The boys woke up crazy early and then played video games in their room until it was time to get up (like 4 or 5 in the morning early).

Another traditional picture.

Santa brought legos for the girls to share, 

and the boys got a Star Wars game for the xbox kinect.

Reaping the spoils of Santa.

Reading our letters from Gramma and Grandpa Seguine, 

Davin's face says it all-this was one of the highlights of the day.

The girls made the boys little stuffed animals from the leftover pj fabric-Eme had been wanting to do something like this for Davin for a month.

Sibling gifts-legos and lego holders.

Eric and the kids surprised me (Eric had already bought me some nativity pieces) with the long awaited roses.  The kids each picked one out for me, Eric did too (and I added one more to the order).  I can't wait for the bare root roses to come in Feb!!

Final gifts: (Eric is notorious for blurry pics w/my camera) Aidan got a Kindle Fire (the cover was his other gift from us).

Davin got the huge X-Wing set.

Eme got a mini-American Girl doll plus her six books.

And Maddie got her first Madame Alexander doll.

I lent Davin my Kindle so the boys could all Minecraft together.

And after the kids went to bed, Eric got to really enjoy his Christmas gift.

Christmas Eve Traditions

Opening the traditional family game...

Oh No! It's for the xbox not the wii, 

I guess Dad better get his gift early :) I have been planning this surprise for over a month! And I totally pulled it off, Eric and the kids thought I really messed up, their faces were perfect.

Time for the annual pajamas...

The girls loving theirs, 

and the boys super happy about theirs (I ended up making theirs since I couldn't find what I was looking for in stores this year).

Awe, now get to bed :)

December 12 in 12

Early morning scripture study

Time to wake the beast.

Breakfast aftermath-it's been worse.

Finishing up the embroidery for my new nieces' stockings.

Pre-hair cut...

Post hair cut, with my cute niece Olivia

Goody, Christmas mail!!

Making my second batch of apple butter for friends.

The girls enjoying (fighting over) Olivia.

Aidan relaxing with his helicopter after homework.

The girls working on snowflakes.

Yup, it's the 12th, and yup my kids put up the calendar weird.

Davin and the double digits

Once upon a time, I had a cute little baby boy.  He was something, he liked to suck on our toes when he learned to walk around furniture...and now he is a double digit big kid.

Chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.

A gift before school-a tiny lego set he could do right away if he went fast :)

After school and more legos from the girls, 

And a minecraft enderman from Aidan.

Of course a creeper cake :)

Don't sneeze, it won't be pretty. Thanks Dad for the help.

Davin was so THRILLED to get a note written by his Nana, it meant just as much as the actual gifts.

Finishing the evening up with legos, legos, and some books.

Christmas Time is Here...

Yup, it's the weekend after Thanksgiving which means it's time to decorate for Christmas!!

Our tree's lights are looking pretty bad this year, like our tree has mange.

But it's nothing that a few new strands of lights won't fix :)

As usual we spent FHE putting up the kid's tree with all of their beloved decorations.  My one rule: if it has your face on it, it is a back of the tree ornament (there just isn't room otherwise).

The kids did a fantastic job, and loved this year's family ornament-a BYU one to commemorate their first trip to the Y.

My tree I got to decorate on Tuesday, after the kids were all in school.