The Mezgers: Merry Christmas

Okay, it's time to get the poop post out of the first position on this blog and move on to something more Christmasy and the most Christmasy thing I can think of is Christmas itself. So here you go you peeps, this is how the Mezger Crew (our own little name for ourselves) celebrated December 25th... and December 24th and 23rd and 22nd.

Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas this year started off with a trip up to Santo for Christmas with the Tacketts. The highlight of that trip is always the fun adventures exploring the farm and seeing family.

Saturday farm adventures included Blake and my dad building a hay fort.

Blake in his new duds, so he can look just like his Pa.

There was pecan picking by Blair.

And no trip is complete without some tractor riding.

On Sunday we squeezed in church, gift exchange at my Nana's house, and decorating baby Jesus fetus cookies.

A post church picture and the only one of me in it.

And one with Gigi who also isn't in many of the pictures.

Everyone moved up the annual Christmas Eve gathering to Christmas Eve Eve so that we could participate. And by everyone I mean these guys-

Since we were a bit snug inside, Bailey discovered that the porch was the perfect place for a performance and even better was that she had an audience (besides her parents). So inspired by Angelina Ballerina, here's Bailey Ballerina and her two best moves-

Blair LOVED, LOVED climbing on the present piles and exploring the wrapping paper mess and was an overall busy little girl.

For a little bit she settled in here, but quickly went back on the move.

This was a much anticipated gift for Uncle Fun to wear- footed pjs! We are thrilled he liked it and will wear it.

Tori just happened to have an extra Christmas sweater for Luke : ) and this was a precursor gift for the one I got him Christmas morning (see below). Luke was once quoted as saying "it's not Christmas until he has watched Elf". Glad we have our own copy- thanks Gigi!

A recent addition to Christmas at my Nana's house is a white elephant gift exchange. Nana had this stolen, but I loved that she wore the doo-rag for awhile.

And here's a few of my brother. Part of his white elephant gift were the very small Santa hat clips.

We were a little rushed for time with the decorating of baby Jesus fetus cookies, which is our excuse for not being more creative with entries. Never-the-less, the winner of the fourth annual decorating of baby Jesus fetus was...

TORI with her Viva la Jesus!

It was her second year to win!

And in second place was baby Penny.

Watch out Tori! I am going to designate some brain cells to this for next year. You will not have a three peat.

One last thing that made Christmas really special was that my mom finished sewing Blair's stocking! All of my kids have a nutcrackerish theme stocking and Blair's sugar plum fairy fits perfectly with the others.

My mom has hand sewed one for everyone in the family, except hers (she is in the middle of making it) and will need to get busy making baby boy Penny one!!!! Yep Tara is having a boy!!!

Top left to right- Mark, Melissa, Blake, Tori

Bottom left to right- Bailey, Luke, Blair

The rest are on the other side of this wall.

Christmas Eve

We drove back to Austin, unpacked as best we could, napped, then attended Franny's Christmas Eve service. Franny then spent the night with us so she could be here Christmas morning. One of my favorite additions this year was our matching Christmas jammies. We got these specific ones to match the other Mezger cousins, but never saw them in their jammies. I am sure if you head over to Ali's blog soon you can put her pictures and mine together and imagine how cute it could have been. Maybe next year?

Christmas Morning

We did the usual present opening as soon as the kids woke up.

Can you say tractor heaven?

I had to document one of Blair in her other favorite spot.

Having fun with a new art project.

My gift to Luke was this costume, which he very proudly wore for part of the day and quoted the movie as often as he could. If Buddy the elf were here, he would probably say "It's just nice to meet another human that shares my affinity for elf culture."

Enjoying Nana's driveway.

As soon as the other Mezgers got there, we opened presents and Rebecca and Bailey got these matching dolls. These two pictures are pretty much the extent of my present picture taking.

This was the other gift I was super excited to give (and I am sure Ali was too). This was the third installment of cousin pictures given to Franny. Bailey and Owen gave them to her in 2008 and Rebecca and Blake in 2010. Ali took these and they turned out great! I've already told her to get her name trademarked so when she turns professional that's already taken care of. : )

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Deep in thought OR he really just wanted his baby Jesus back. They have been buddies for the last month and now on Jesus's birthday mom steals it to put on the cake. That's no fun!