Christmas #2
We will start with some arrival fun & games
It was cold enough for ice!
We played hide and seek with this elf.
Since the kids really wanted snow to make a snowman, Gigi compromised with this silly putty snowman.
But after awhile he starts to melt...
Blair loved pushing the button to make these angels sing.
And there is always farm fun-
Blair with Milkmouth, a favorite kitten of all the kids.
I did not get out in the cold that much, but these kids love gator/four wheeler rides so I made an exception. I had the camera out to get some pictures of Luke target shooting his hand gun, but missed them.
Pictures with Santa
My mom loves pictures with Santa to the point that I made the image below one year that we weren't going to see her and also didn't get to see the jolly ole fellow for pictures (maybe 2010 guessing by the pictures). I found this in her Christmas scrapbook.
I also found our Christmas card from 2006, which I had forgotten that my mom kept. The reason I wanted to find it was that there was a printing error and the New York skyline & more importantly the top part of his head were washed out to white. There was not time to reprint and still get them out, so I put Santa hats on all of Luke's heads because I thought it would be weird for Luke to be bald in our picture when he wasn't bald. My family still teases me about this.
Anyways, here are this year's pictures.
Christmas Eve is always spent with my Nana
Here is a cousin picture with Colt. Thanks to Tara, Colt & Blake had matching monogrammed shirts and thanks to Gigi, Bailey & Blair had matching outfits.
My cousin Maryann & family were there. Her little guy Sam (in the Santa suit) is one month younger than Colt.
One with the siblings.
And a sister pic showing some love to Beau.
Tori with Aunt Kathy
Pa & Blake trying out a new bow & arrow
Uncle Fun & Blair
Tori with Blakers
One of Nana with the infamous Kleenex-holding-couch-white-elephant-gift. It got stolen from her during the game, but I know it will be back next year and up for grabs.
Christmas Morning
It was hard to hide this one, but besides that each kid got to open one gift until the Pennys arrived. Bailey upgraded to a larger chair and Blair got a new cover for the smaller chair.
Remote controlled car fun!
After the Penny's got there it was a gift opening frenzy, where you claim an area of the room, make loot piles and find out what everyone gets at the end.
Colt opening his gift from us.
I love this one of my sister and I have enjoyed watching her as a mom.
Colt with Gigi & Pa
Beau's first gift and a mandatory one for me- new swaddlers!
IRONMAN!!!
Santa's appearance
Apparently 4 kids = us being the Duggars. : )
Blake was so excited about his outfit that we didn't get a family jammie picture and Blair sustained an eye injury during present opening so she was a little sad here from that.
Decorating Baby Jesus Fetus Cookies
This was Bailey's cookie of Bailey Jesus.
Other contestants were Sweet Duck Dynasty Baby Jesus by Tori
Sweet 8lb Ricky Bobby Baby Jesus by Melissa
I really thought I had a good idea this year with the hair (even on the chest), but my parents had not seen Talladega Nights to appreciate my cookie to vote for it.
Super Jesus by Tara
Gesu Bambino Dolce by Luke
Time Crunch Jesus by Robby (because they had to leave immediately after cookie decorating)
Blake's cookie that was quickly eaten.
Blair eating daddy's cookie.
And here's the three time reigning champ with her Duck Dynasty Jesus.
And Bailey got 2nd.
The group shot
Christmas Day Evening Bailey was in major pretend mode being a chef and told the Christmas story. I personally was thankful for more adults to play along and be willing to listen.
Blair got some snuggles from Aunt Kathy
Bailey's nativity scene.
It was a sweet time with my side of the family. I love the laughter, silliness, & busyness of a houseful of Tacketts together. I love that some things never change about Christmas with them and how we have added in new traditions. I am so thankful Luke & I have the opportunity to travel, so that I can have easily coordinated time with all my siblings and extended family. It is also nice to share in a piece of how I grew up doing things. My kids definitely didn't want to leave and have already ask to go back. Only yesterday did I finish unpacking everything and putting up our new things, which was made easy by the fact that the kids were very occupied playing with new toys. Yay for having lots of new activities and unsupervised play!!!
Christmas #2 Down. Looking forward to 2014!