Christmas Day 2011

Santa/Pop Pop and his sleigh. My parents woke up and headed to our house at about 8:30, where my kids were almost done with their gifts and heading in for stockings.

Luke and the stockings. Filled with things like tootbrushes, toothpaste, band aids, silly putty and other little things, the kids get as excited about these as they do their actual presents.

We spent the afternoon and evening with the entire Mangan family at Brendan and Kim's house. They do a fantastic job hosting 30 to a sit down dinner! Here is Julia and her only other girl cousin on Nate's side, who she idolizes. Jules called this look "cowlgirl princess"......not sure, but okay.

The chaos of 9 kids 12-1 playing and opening gifts.

I'm feeling tired just recapping Christmas. NY's was also wonderful, we spent the afternoon and evening with the Balciks and Reeds, then came home around 9:30 and got the kids off to bed. We celebrated the ringing in of the New Years at our neighbors, who were having a party, and Jake (my party animal!) slept till 11:15 the next day. This having older kids thing is getting pretty sweet! I hope anyone who makes it through this boring litany of Christmas events also had a great time this holiday ~ and that 2012 brings new opportunities for joy and growth to all of us. xoxo

Christmas morning, 2011

Coming down the stairs on Christmas morning. Poor Luke woke up excited at 6 am....and Julia and Jake slept till past 8. Luke was a patient boy hanging out with us in our bed (I admit I was up with excitement, too, after a while I paced around downstairs, making coffee, lighting candles, and enjoying the calm sunny house before chaos broke out.

Julia opened her presents. Santa brought her what she asked for, a Dr. Suess book about butterflies, a watch, and a tinkerbell nightlight.

Santa also brought a group gift this year. Our playroom was transformed into an art room, since lately drawing and crafting is all the kids want to do. Thanks, Ikea! The gate also was taken off, which symbolizes a huge shift in our life/dynamic! No more babies!

Putting out cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for the Reindeer. We then hunkered down in front of the fire and read "the Polar Express" before bed, and then whisked the kids off to sleep so Nate and I could cook up a romantic dinner. All of the gifts had been wrapped and the furniture put together (Thanks Prells and Frees!) at our annual wrapping get together with a couple of friends, so we didn't really have any work to do other than stuff the stockings and carry up the gifts.

Happy with hot chocolate to go before we set out on our Christmas Eve Christmas lights tour. We ooohed and aahhhed at all of the beautiful lights in the neighborhoods around us, listened to Christmas music, and laughed a lot.