Christmas: Part 1

What a year we've had!  And there was no slowing down for the holidays this time.  In a lot of ways it seemed like we missed most of it all together.  We were still trying to get the house out of construction mode in time for Christmas and my parents visit so that we could actually slow down a little and enjoy our visit with them.  Christmas Eve was just another regular day this year with us running around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to find places for things to go, get the house somewhat cleaned and get some of our Christmas meals prepared ahead of time.  Which I think we managed to do pretty well considering.

Finally Christmas morning came and the kids got to open their stockings.  Because my parents were coming in late Christmas night we decided to wait until Monday to celebrate Christmas 'day' with them.  Sunday after opening up our stockings we went to the Paulson's house for church and an afternoon Christmas dinner and then in the evening we went to pick up my parents from the airport. 

Monday we spent watching the kids light up with excitement over their new gifts and we all played the afternoon away.  My mom and I baked a turkey and we enjoyed a nice Christmas dinner, it was a wonderful day spent with our family! 

And yes, I do realize we are already well into January and Christmas is long gone and over for everyone so I am sorry that there are a so many Christmas pictures but I'm still trying to catch up on everything.  That seems to be my life right now, always one step behind!  And I should apologize for the pictures now.  Kids who don't slow down to pose for a 'perfect' shot and a brand new camera and a hubby who changed the settings the night before made for some blue, blurry and very bad photos.  So you may think 'why in the world would she post such bad photos?', it's because it's all I have.  Maybe I should have resorted to auto mode or I should have gotten an editing program to at least help them out a little.  Oh well! :)

Here was our 2011 Christmas.

Janessa digging in, or she just thought it was fun to play with the stocking

this is the best baby toy ever!

McKenzie excited to see what's in her stocking

they got some pretty fun toys

the mini flashlights were a hit, they're still playing with them!

got to get everything, even what's at the very bottom

my sweet princess



love her skirt!

my sweet kiddos on Christmas morning

awww!  love it!

Christmas Sunset.  SO amazing!

Grandma and Papa arrived!

had to show Papa the piano since it had just been brought up the day before

happy birthday to me from mom and dad, my new 50mm/ f 1.4 lens. Yay!

Papa and Grandma reading a Bible story and putting Zeke and Kenzie to bed

To be continued...