Christmas 2015

We had to make sure we had Christmas cookies for Santa so we rolled out sugar cookies and the kids decorated.  Grant was afraid we would run out of sprinkles. His concern was legit considering the amount of sprinkles he used per cookie!

 Our elf, Domino this year in a take off pose!

We spent Christmas Eve with our good friends the Earle's and forgot to take a picture!  We headed to Christmas Eve service at our church with the Earle's and my family.  It was a family friendly service which meant no open flames.  It wasn't quite the same without the thrill of wondering if your child would be the one who could possibly burn the church down.  The kids got battery operated candles during the children's sermon and they were happy with that.  I truly missed the real candles and the dark church, but the timing of the service was great.  Because after the service we bid the Earle's goodbye and headed to my parent's for dinner.

Before departing for the evening the kids put the reindeer food out in the yard (oatmeal with glitter!)

Cousin love

The kids got to unwrap one gift...Christmas PJ's - embroidered by Pops himself!  Yes, Pops is now in the embroidery business!

The grandkids in their new xmas p's -  Megan was really excited! It is her first xmas after all!

We headed home at a decent time so we could get Santa's milk and cookies ready and Daddy read Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Reading this story is a really special tradition.  Brandon's dad used to read it every year to him and his sister.  A few years ago they gave us the Hallmark version that you can record your voice and it had Kenny's voice.  When we were getting all of the Christmas things out this year and I came across the book I was so excited because we could still have a piece of Kenny with us this year and the kids could hear his voice.  I was in tears when I opened it and discovered that only a few of the pages worked - even after changing the batteries. I never knew how much this book mean to us.  Luckily, they had given Amber's family the same book and hers still works so she has it all recorded and will be able to share it with us.  Sometimes it's the little things that end up meaning so much and those little things catch you totally off guard.  

So we tucked our babies into bed and Brandon informed them that Santa doesn't come to a clean house! Which we all just bursted out laughing about because that is what his Mom used to always tell them and they would scurry to clean their rooms! Lucky for them their rooms were already clean.  We kissed them goodnight and I told them that Santa doesn't come until everyone is asleep, which really is very true!  They actually feel asleep pretty fast and as were were lying in bed I say to Brandon "You know they will be up early tomorrow, it will be before we are really ready to get up, but they aren't going to be little that much longer so let's not get mad, let's just embrace it and enjoy Christmas". 

THEN THIS HAPPENED:

YES THAT SAYS 3:19 AM

That's not even the half of it....of course they made deal with each other that however woke up first has to wake the other.  Our lovely daughter (a wonderful sleeper) woke up at 2:15 and went in and woke Grant (our typical earlier riser).  He claims he argued that it probably wasn't time to get up yet and they should go back to bed, but she trumped in and they came and woke us up.  I had been asleep about an hour and a half and roll over and see a TWO on my clock and I suggest they crawl into bed with us and lets all cuddle and sleep just a wee bit longer.  Ok sounds like a plan except they are too excited and there is lots of movement a few giggles etc...you can imagine the scene and don't forget of course the dog is in bed with us too.  2:45, I suggest they get their sleeping bags and sleep on our floor, because "kids to be honest, I'm not sure Santa has come yet and we better sleep a little longer".  3:19 we finally cave and decide to indeed embrace Christmas morning.  My eyes hurt so bad I couldn't even tell that I took a blurry picture and Elizabeth doesn't exactly look that awake either, but oh those smiles - they were so excited and of course that made it all worth it!

Santa brought EB art supplies and a white board and Grant got a scooter that leaves a chalk trail.   

Auggie opening her gifts

Stockings!

Hey Dad - that's Auggie's new scarf!

Gifts that kids made for us

Snow globe

Snorkel gear...just what every kid who lives in Illinois needs! (but just wait!) 

Oh a moment captured! We took the kids shopping for each other.  Grant got EB a Puppy Surprise and she got him Transformers.

Family gift - an ice cream maker! (good idea daddy!)

She may not love her xmas sweater, but she does like to wear scarves/bandanas!

Well we finished opening gifts at 5:30 - thank goodness Mommy got a new coffee mug.  We opened up one of the new games and had a little breakfast (no fancy xmas breakfast).  At 7:00 I announced that I loved them very much but if I didn't catch a few hours more sleep I would surely get sick and no one wants Mommy to be sick - "so be good children and play with your new toys, again I love you very much!" I did really feel guilty about going back to bed but I knew what our schedule was like for the next few days and I can't run on two hours sleep.  At 10:00 we were renewed with holiday cheer and we headed to Ima and Pops and we started Christmas with mimosas.

Two minutes into the 10 minute car ride Grant feel asleep! No kidding!

Santa bags courtesy of Ima's sewing and Pops' embroidery

The big surprise at Ima and Pops' was a new toy for the farm...mini bikes! My mom loves to tell the story that when her brother was about Elizabeth's age he fell of a pony and broke both of his arms and so grandpa got rid of the ponies and bought mini bikes! So mini bikes will once again be part of the farm.  We had to take them for a quick spin to try them out.  The kids still have to get fitted for proper helmets, but we made them wear bike helmets for the test ride.  David and I got the pleasure of driving them on the first ride.  They are going to be a lot of fun!

Isn't this an awesome picture?!

Brandon had a hard time watching so the big boys had their turn too.  Of course, my mom is shouting, "no racing!" and of course no one is listening.  The speed increases slowly, but top speed is about 30mph - fast enough to have fun!

Pops always has room for a dog on his lap! 

It was a wonderful Christmas - Megan was the only one who napped (although many were jealous!).  We all slept well that night!

All three asleep on the way home!

The next day we loaded up at 8:30.  We dropped Auggie at daycare (yes doggy daycare) at 9:00 and headed to the Briggs family Christmas.  We got there early because we knew we had to leave early.  It was such a fun day.  We got to see almost all of our cousins and the kids all had fun playing together. I was very sad to have to leave early, plus we had to tell David, Sara and Megan goodbye too :(

Somebody loves having a baby cousin! 

The kids hate telling Uncle David good-bye - especially Grant.

Megan really just wanted to touch EB's hair! Oh she is so cute - we are going to miss them!

Thank you for smiling Pauli kids - good job everyone else! 

Auntie Alison has to get her baby cuddles!

It was time to head back home because we still had more Christmas fun ahead!! I can't believe I don't have one single picture from xmas with Aunt Sandy.  I have to do a better job of taking pictures! Sandy, Greg, Matt & Judy came over to celebrate with us before they headed north.  We had appetizers and Brandon made crab legs - it was the perfect post xmas feast.  Aunt Sandy (and all her family!) is so special to us - I wish we could have spent more time with them too!  There just wasn't enough time to go around this year, but the time that we did have was great and we made some awesome memories.  And we didn't have as much time as usually because the next day was our turn to wake the kids up early....

Happy Birthday Jesus!