Thursday, January 3, 2013

Christmas Day

We woke up bright and early...around 6:30 the kids came to get us.  We hurried into the Living Room to see what Santa had brought us...and boy do we have two pretty good kids...at least Santa thought so! :)
Harper and I both ran as fast as they could and started going from item to item admiring their gifts.  So fast, in fact, that I could hardly get any pictures taken! 
Harper got an iPad!  She was so excited.  She also got some crafty sets, a DS storage bag, running tights (just like Mom's) and some movies.  She and Richard have already loaded tons of apps on the iPad and she plays with it all of the time!




Owen...was very good...because he got a Drum Set!  (or does that mean that Mom and Dad weren't very good!)  He sat down and immediately started his own jam session.  He has already figured out several rhythms and plays a lot.  He also got an Iron Man costume, Captain America jacket, movies and several fun toys!  Not to mention both of their stockings were full to the brim.


There is nothing better than Christmas morning...except...yummy breakfast at Grandma and Boppy's house...oh and that it turned out to be a White Christmas!!!  As soon as the kids were done with their Santa presents, we got dressed and headed over there for breakfast.


After eating, the kids were chomping at the bit to get to open presents.  They took turns opening...Harper one...Owen one...Hazen one (except...they helped him).  Every time it would get to Owen's turn he would say..."I think I know what it is!"..."It's what I always wanted!"  It was classic! Owen got a ton of SuperHero stuff, Jake the Pirate stuff and a super cool Thomas the Train set and blanket that Grandma made him.  It was perfect for him because he has been really into dress up lately.



Harper was such a lucky girl...not only did she get a really pretty blanket also, but Grandma made tons of matching clothes for her McKenna doll and her.  They are precious.  Harper also got this school play set that she has had her eye on for quite some time.  A girl after my own heart!


Of course...us big kids were very lucky to get all of our goodies too!  We got everything on our lists...absolutely perfect!!!  Thank you Grandma and Boppy!








Around noon, we loaded up in the four-wheel drive vehicles and made the trek to the farm to celebrate Christmas with Grandma and my dad's side of the family.  It was terribly cold weather and the kids couldn't go outside, so it made for some tight quarters.  We had a fun time playing with Abigail's new knitting machine and the kids were glad to see each other.




Overall...a spectacular Christmas Day!!!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Christmas Eve

Just as tradition has it...(would I have it any other way!)
We started off Christmas Eve at our house with just the 4 of us!  We spent time opening presents from/to each other.  Harper got to shop this year at her school's Santa Shop...so all of our presents from her were a surprise.  I must say...she is quite a good gift giver!  The kids' got me a Coach purse...which I was frustrated with because Richard and I said no gifts this year.  But his excuse was it was from the kids.  He got me this time, but I won't be fooled twice! :)  Richard had been working in the garage and surprised me with some Organic Bloom type frames and he made Harper's doll, McKenna, a loft bed.  He gave Owen the greatest gift a boy could ask for...a rock pile under the playhouse!  He was in high heaven!!!






After we opened presents, Harper and I spent some time decorating our Christmas sugar cookies!  I only made one batch this year, so there weren't as many as usual.  Of course, Owen wanted to help...so we decorated one or two...but then went back to playing with his toys!


For lunch, we joined Granny & Grandpa at Johnnie's for some yummy hamburgers and then headed back to our house to open presents.  Harper was so excited to get a pair of Ugg boots and Owen got a Thomas the Train track.  So fun!


After a good afternoon nap, we got all gussied up in our Christmas attire and headed to Mass.  It is always one of my favorite times...hearing the children's choir, all of the gorgeous decorations and being stuffed like sardines into the pews with the ones I love!





After Mass, we went back to our house to get prepared for Santa's visit.  The kids had been watching his progress on his my iphone all day...and they knew he was getting near.  We first opened our Christmas Eve box and got all of the kids dressed in their Christmas PJs...including Hazen!  Then we got the cookies, carrots, apple (for Rudolph) and milk all ready to go.  Last event for the night...sprinkling the Reindeer food on the lawn to help them find our house!  A Magical Evening! 





Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Sneaky's Mischief

Sneaky, our Elf on the Shelf, spent the rest of the days before Christmas in many mischievous ways.  However, he did take a break to do some nice things too!  We were all sad to see him go on Christmas Eve, but can't wait for him to come back next year!




 {He packed the kid's lunch!}



 {A Candy Cane Garden!  Plant Mints one day...look what grew!}

{His goodbye letter and his suitcase!}