Christmas Day

We were fortunate enough to be able to gather with extended family over the course of the afternoon and evening Christmas Day.  We spent the afternoon at my Uncle Steve and Aunt Cher's house where we got to catch up with relatives we don't see enough.  It was a good time.  The boys were blessed with a few presents as well which they were tickled with.  (Excuse the delay of this post (blogger seems to have issues lately posting pictures) and and the poor picture quality - apparently my camera was on the wrong setting and I realized it too late.

Rachel and Joshua

My grandparents and Matthew.

Uncle Steve and Aunt Cher totally surprised Joshua with a die cast Nascar car signed by the driver!

Clifford and Clifford books for Matthew!

Matthew hugging Clifford.

Uncle Steve and Joshua checking out the Nascar.

A new Lego set for Joshua and Duplos for Matthew - Thank you Uncle Jim and Aunt Nancy!

Matthew shows off his Santa diaper :)

Shannon, Matthew, Joshua and Rachel.

Baby Pierson's first Christmas.

The boys made ornaments for some of the special people in their lives and Joshua snapped this picture of Aunt Cher just after she opened hers.

Matthew plays with his new Duplos with Uncle Phil.

We don't believe in Santa at our house, but when my Uncle Paul arrived Joshua said, "maybe Santa is real". 

Matthew, Pierson and Joshua with "Santa".

Christmas Morning

This year, like every other year, we tried to keep the celebration of Christmas all about the Christ Child instead of it being about everything else you could fill Christmas time with.  We did our Advent wreath all throughout the month of December and even Matthew could help tell the Bible stories that went along with our Advent wreath!  We really enjoy preparing our hearts for Christmas this way every year. That being said we did have our own small, relaxing family celebration with presents of Christmas morning before the busyness of the rest of the day was upon us.  The boys loved their presents and were thankful for each one of them.  

The ornament Joshua made for us in school - can you see his picture inside of it?!

 

Opening the little gifts they got each other.

A new game for his Mobigo.

More Duplos for his ever-growing collection!

The look I got when Joshua realized I had tricked him by wrapping his gift and hiding inside another wrapped box - apparently it wasn't as amusing as I mom thought it would be :)

Super Mario Bros. for the Wii!

 

Matthew playing with his new Playmobil bus.

 

Another game for his Mogigo, this time it's Scooby Doo.

 

Castle blocks for the boy who LOVES to build.

 

The one and only item he requested for Christmas, a Playmobil fire boat.

 

Matthew opening his big present.

 

His own keyboard!

A new game for Matthew.

Christmas Eve Evening

Christmas Eve night we had my dad (aka Papa) and my brother (aka Uncle Phil) over for dinner and to open gifts.  After stuffing ourselves with delicious honey baked ham and all the side dishes to go wtih it we sat down to open presents.  Since Dave was unable to be here for Christmas we talked to him via skype and he watched the boys open their gifts and the boys watched him open his.  We all had to be quite strategic in just where to sit so Dave could see us, but not get too dizzy doing so!  The boys loved their gifts from Papa, Uncle Phil and Uncle Dave!  The Playmobil collection was added to, they each got some new clothes, Matthew has lots of fun Duplos and Joshua has a cool new marble maze.  The putting everything together process came next and soon after it was time for the boys to go to bed and the house to be cleaned up before Christmas morning soon arrived.

Matthew didn't quite know what to think about talking to Uncle Dave via the computer.

Joshua gets in on the conversation with Uncle Dave.  Dave even walked around with his laptop so we could have a skype tour of his apartment.

Matthew's new Duplo supermarket from Uncle Phil and Uncle Dave.

New Marble Maze for Joshua from Uncle Phil and Uncle Dave!

Clothes from Papa.

Joshua's Playmobil hospital from Papa!

Mocha getting in the middle of the action.

Matthew's Playmobil school from Papa!

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The boys thought Papa needed a bit of help opening his gifts.

New clothes for Papa.

Annual cologne and and gift card for Uncle Phil.

All the guys helping to put together the marble maze.

Stockings!

Due to wanting to "spread the wealth" so the speak the boys opened their stockings on Christmas Eve morning.  They were beyond excited to finally see their stockings full after seeing them empty for almost a month.  Joshua tore right into his stocking to see what surprises awaited him while Matthew took a much more laid back approach and once he discovered his new books Matthew had to be persuaded to find the rest of the goodies in his stocking.  The big hits of the year were their Angry Bird hats, books and electric toothbrushes that they could decorate with stickers!

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Gingerbread Houses

Last year I picked up gingerbread house kits on clearance thinking we might do them in January.  We never got to it so I packed them away with the Christmas stuff.  We pulled them out during Christmas break and the kids had a great time decorating them and having free reign of eating all the candy their little hands could touch while they decorated.  Joshua's friend Hunter was over the morning we worked on the gingerbread houses so they worked together to make a masterpiece.  

Hager Family Christmas

This year we celebrated Christmas with the Hager family the weekend before Christmas.  It is so nice this way as we aren't rushed for time running from celebration to celebration and the gifts are spread out so the kids get to play with and enjoy their new toys before more come.  We had a great time as usual with many laughs.  It's so nice that the cousins are all at ages where the enjoy playing together and get along well, for the most part.  Thank you Dad and Mom Hager for a wonderful Christmas celebration!

Mom Hager opening up her necklace with all the grandchildren's birthstones (a total of 9).

 Walkie Talkie's for Dad H. for easier communication when "caravaning" camping with the boat and the trailer and for use to communicate between the boat and shore.

Christmas chaos.....kids everywhere!

 Matthew got a new forklift!

Excuse the blurry picture, but Joshua was very excited to open his HUGE present!

Joshua shares his new beanbag with Aiden.

 Just what Joshua wanted!

More Duplo for Matthew!