Christmas 2012

We had monkey bread (the RIGHT way:) and sausage balls for breakfast.

 we always do stockings while the breakfast is cooking. (or snockings, as Ephram calls them)

 After breakfast the kids took turns opening their gifts.

 her favs were books and her Anne of Green Gables movies.

 His fav's were LEGOS

 Her fav was a bunk bed for her American Girl Dolls]

 gifts for daddy:)

 cailey pulled out all the gifts...ephram decided this was a prime opportunity for a horsey ride!

 Ephram's favorite was a tie...between the pirate ship his siblings INSISTED on buying him (Cailey's idea:), and a sword Brian and I got him while we were in San Francisco.

 After opening the gifts the kids could be found all over the downstairs quietly playing with something new (or reading new books). Cailey asked for earphones like this because the buds hurt her ears.  She's LOVED using them!

 After the turkey was in, the gifts were opened, and tummies were full they put on their 'handsome' and 'fancy' clothes (according to E)

 then came the scavenger hunt for the last gift. i wrote a TON of clues to keep them going a while. they LOVED searching and it was a great way to make Christmas fun last even longer.

 after about 15 clues they found their gift...a pogo stick! it was a BIG hit:)

 Cailey got this wall hanging kit from the neighbor and it was gorgeous!  When it was opened she decided right then and there she was going to make it as a gift to give to Abby.  She worked SO hard on it...and really loved how it turned out. She is SO generous and giving!  She also painted Nicky a wall hanging.

 The cousins arrived in time to join in on some outside play and coloring fun.

 the girls changed into jammies before dinner:).  braden and cailey played Christmas music for us.

 I actually didn't take many pictures on Christmas day after the gifts were opened because I was playing with the kids or cooking dinner. This is the only picture I got with everyone (and you can't even tell)

 Cailey and Poppy playing piano after dinner while Nonny, Brian and I were cleaning and Matt and Leigh were walking the dog.

 This is a special picture for a lot of reasons...and happens to be the only one I bothered the cousins with this trip.  The kids spent the whole evening playing school and this was their 'class picture' with the principal:).  They had a lot of fun together!

The cousins left the next day but Nonny and Poppy stayed a while longer. We played a lot of games together including this one from Aunt Stefi and Uncle Dave..it was hilarious to watch! 

Mom and I also got to go to the movies together!  It was a Christmas filled with family!