Christmas 2014

Christmas and Hanukkah were very fun and busy this year! Jackson was super excited and asked every day if Santa was coming. He knew exactly what he wanted to ask for for Christmas. Camden was old enough to participate in most activities but still didn't totally get what was going on. He wasn't too big on opening presents either. Luckily he had help from his big brother though! We went to Christmas tree lightings, Lights in the Garden at the botanical gardens, made reindeer at Build a Bear, lit Hanukkah candles, decorated Christmas cookies, made a gingerbread house and celebrated with lots of family time!

Jackson and I decorated a gingerbread house one morning. He had so much fun and really did a lot of it himself! I did the one side of the roof that's all lined up but he did most of the rest of it!

Camden was trying to help me hang lights outside

 Our Rudolph we built at build a bear. It even plays Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the nose lights up. Camden is scared of his and wouldn't even touch it!

I spent some time this month trying to take better photos with my camera and even playing around with editing them in different ways in Photoshop and Lightroom. Still have a looonnng way to go!!

Connor, Jackson and Dillon

Christmas eve dinner was at our house. Jimmy's family came over and so did Nana and Papa. Delicious BBQ brisket for dinner, mashed potatoes, salad, green beans and a yummy cake for dessert!

The 4 cousins

Our stocking were hung by the chimney with care...

And Santa brought many fun things for everyone! So Jackson got his pogo stick but got one that was age appropriate for him. As soon as he walked (ran) downstairs to see what he got he immediately said "that's not a real pogo stick, I wanted a real pogo stick." Well Santa obviously thought he should learn on this one first. And it is hard for him! The pogo stick is hiding behind the green bouncy ball in the picture.

Oh the magic of inexpensive light up toys!

Who doesn't have 2 fires on Christmas morning? Ha!

The year was so much better than last year! Having one usable hand at Christmas with a toddler and an infant was no fun last year!

 Jackson and Camden got a power wheels Jeep from Nana and Papa. They couldn't wait to take it for a spin!

 Then Camden decided he had enough of Jackson's driving and got into his push car!

We played for a while before heading in for naps and then once we woke up we went to Adrienne's for Christmas dinner.

The cousins: Connor, Dillon, Jackson and Camden

Jackson and his Grandma Gigi

Camden with Daddy opening a present. We had a nice time there and a delicious dinner Adrienne cooked.

On Saturday we packed up and headed to the lake for more Christmas fun. David and Lis were driving in too on Saturday and arrived shortly after us.

 The theme for the kids turned out to be ball toys. Camden got 2, Jackson got 1 and Sebastian got 1. They all loved them!

 Lis got these adorable matching pants for the kids. trying to get a pic of all three was pretty tough. These were the best two out of the 30 or so we took!

A wonderful, happy, healthy holiday season! Couldn't ask for anything more!