Before anyone

gets the idea that we don't celebrate Christmas here is our evidence to the contrary.

Kirsten was one festive girl in her red and green. Her necklace was made by her dad when he was a little boy. It was a gift for his mom and she had saved it all these years.

The kids all had their matching pajamas on Christmas Eve. Colton is blurry because his Daddy had just thrown (strategically placed) him on the couch and he didn't want to pose. I love Camryn's look of "why are we here?" and Bryce's "shhh, just one more day of playing nice."


Then all we could do is sit around and wait until morning. This is my favorite part of Christmas. My goal is always to be ready to enjoy the next 24 hours. You know not so exhausted and frazzled that you can't relax and at the same time satisfied that everyone is going to be happily surprised at the outcome.

I know families where the kids pick out their own presents so no one is surprised on Christmas morning but not at our house. We always have more toys than clothes, maybe because we have more boys than girls or maybe because we had grandchildren while we still had children but toys are us.

Emily got Just Dance for the Wii and these four did. Emily was really fast.

Colton got this black truck just like his daddy's. Bryce already had his license so he drove and

Colton played with his train all morning. (And Emily her phone.)

Kirsten was all tangled with the dress and the wig.

Camryn was happy with the ribbon and paper before she got to the toys.

Emily loves bacon. Jones Soda, the bacon flavored version not so much.

Geoff loves sleeping, Christmas morning wore him out.


We had such a good time having everyone (but Eric) home for Christmas. Camryn is such a cute, sweet girl.

Bryce had baseball jammies and a matching Casey at the Bat book. We miss Bryce and all the crazy things he says.

Max is not much of a cuddler but we tried not to let him know.

We will miss these silly boys

and their cute faces.