Christmas!!!

This is the first year that we've spent all of Christmas without family. I think we all longed for home and family a bit, but we did pretty well and had a blast together. 

Our Christmas Eve began with a live nativity in downtown Ann Arbor. The kids loved the real animals, especially the camel. It was a nice way to focus our holiday on the real meaning of Christmas.

Then we headed to the church to eat Christmas Eve dinner with some good friends. Thank goodness for friends who aren't visiting family...it would have been awfully lonely without such good people to join us.

They indulged us and played the candy bar game with us! It's always a hit.

Any chance I will ever get a picture without one of my boys (the oldest one included) making some goofy face?

We shared a sweet Christmas story about a "lost sheep", then Melissa brought out her Christmas puppets and we did the nativity story with them. It was a really fun twist on our old tradition. 

Mike read the Christmas story to us from Luke 2...check out the Bible. What is wrong with this picture?

Jammies! We love all getting into our Christmas PJs together. And, yes, we are ALL matching! Red and black buffalo plaid for everyone! We also got to skype with our families. Love technology. The kids were SO excited for Santa to come!

Christmas!

The obligatory stairs picture. We told everyone they had to sleep until 6. As the clock was changing numbers from 5:59 to 6:00 our 3 little munchkins walked into our room, jumping up and down saying, "It's Christmas! It's Christmas!!"

Presents!!! The kids sure got a haul this year. Maybe it was because all the presents had to be sent to us, so they got everything all at once. Grandma and Grandpa sent a Wii!!! That should really help with our long Michigan winters!! They boys couldn't believe how lucky they were. They also got cute clothes that didn't quite muster the same excitement.

Mimi and Papa sent a guitar for Jace, drums and Pixos for Parker, and a movie and Playmobil set for James. Exactly what they all wanted. Plus, clothes they tried to be as excited about.

 Here's James with his favorite presents: CANDY!

All the boys got spy stuff, swords, guns and pirate stuff from Santa, plus blanket animals a game for the Wii, bean bags and lots of books. Mom and dad got them lots of other fun stuff: tools, building stuff, games a toy ship...and they LOVED opening the presents they got for each other from the dollar store and from cousins. They were so excited about everything. Can you say spoiled?

And perhaps the most favorite, smaller gift? Bayblades! They played with them all day long. Nice one Uncle Bryce and Aunt Lora. You guys were a hit!

Apparently Christmas was much too fun to stop for many pictures. Mike and I were also treated ridiculously well by both sides of the family. I got a new camera!! And I can't wait to use it. I'm thrilled! I've been dying to be able to take better pictures. Plus gift certificates to all my favorite shopping spots. Yeah! I can't wait to use them. Mike also got me a really awesome canvas, I'll have to take a picture of. I loved it! Mike got LOTS of winter clothes and long underwear which he needs as he waits at the bus stop each morning. Plus some U of M wear and a few tools and gadgets. 

I loved watching the boys give us their presents. They were so excited about it. Thank you to EVERYONE for creating such a special Christmas for our family. We feel ridiculously blessed and totally undeserving, but grateful.

On Christmas Day we headed to my grandma's cousin that she hasn't even seen for 55 years. There we met all kinds of extended family we never knew existed. It was so kind of them to take us in for the holiday. Can't believe I never took a picture!

Three cheers for a WONDERFUL Christmas!