Sledding Christmas Day

The kids were delighted to have a little bit of snow on Christmas Day so they could pull the sleds out.  Scott and Grandpa got the four-wheelers out and pulled them in circles around the pastures.  As you can see there wasn't much grass but there was enough for them to have a ball!

 Ryan, Bekah, Ashley and Brandon

Brent and Joe

Ryan

Scott

Melissa and Claire

Minnie, Grace, Tyler and Danny

Grandpa

Joe and Axel

Izzy and Amy didn't want to be in the cold so they went to visit the new kitty then played in Grandma's house.

Christmas Morning

The magic before anything is disturbed

 

 

The crew waiting for me to give the go ahead.  I made them make beds and do hair and we didn't let them wake us until 8 (I'm awful!).  However they survived and it was a great morning.

Apparently I needed to take more pictures because all I have of Ash is this!

Christmas Breakfast and presents at Grandma and Grandpa's

Christmas morning we always have a brunch at Grandma's house just like I grew up with.  We have the same food that we used to at Grandma and Grandpa Swenson's house: Danish hotcakes, cheese, sausage, muffins (actually this year it was cinnamon rolls, yum) and hash browns. 

  After the delicious breakfast we the kids play until everything is cleaned up then we open presents from Grandma and Grandpa.  Everyone loves it! 

 Grandma is very thoughtful in her presents including spending hours and hours sewing beautiful doll clothes for Ashley's new doll "McKenna" - named after our babysitter.

 Three beautiful blondes. 

 Ryan and Jake

 Tommy with his new toy which was a hit.

 The wonderful hosts.  Love you Grandma and Grandpa!!

Scott and I courtesy of my three year old photographer!

Christmas Eve Nativity

Isabelle looked great as an old shepherd.  She said the beard was funny but it made her all sweaty.  :)

 Ashley was a beautiful pink angel.

Ryan as a wiseman 

 The whole crew

After the nativity each family shared a musical number.  Ryan and Isabelle both played the piano and after they played Ashley decided she wanted to sing for everyone and she made up her own song for the event.  I was unprepared with my camera and missed it but I asked her to sing it again later so she made up a new one.  Funny girl.  She does that every week in FHE and expects us to sing along.

Christmas Dinner at Grandma's House

Grandma always has a fancy setup for Christmas Eve Dinner.  The tables were beautiful, the artichokes were delish, the butter (courtesy of Jon) was perfect, the drinks just the right amount of lime (mmm...), and the pies were heavenly. There was other food but I think I covered my favorites :)

 Izzy and the girls claimed the big table this time.

 Scott was in charge of corralling Tommy.

 Ashley loves sitting next to her cousins, especially Lily.  She thinks she is wonderful.

 Brandon, Bekah and Ryan enjoying their food.

Tommy even ate!  Of course he was done well before we were, but that's the norm.

Grandma's beautiful new peppermint tree.

Hooray! Cousins are finally here!!

My kids look forward to cousins coming as much as I look forward to my sisters coming!  The kids were delighted that there was a little extra time before the Christmas Eve party for them to play with Claire and Bekah. 

 Izzy, Claire and Ashley played with our new kitty, Midnight and had a tea party with Ashley's new teaset from Carolyn.  The big girls were very patient with the 3 yr old who wanted in on the fun.

Ryan and Bekah played board games and then entertained each other in with their piano skills.

Ashley's beautiful blanket

We had a wonderful visit with Ashley's birthmother and her family this week.  She brought a special gift for Ashley from her sister-in-law.  She made a beautiful quilt complete with her name and hearts quilted all over it and a mini one for her dolls.  It's wonderful.  She brought it in this adorable Christmas box.  I'm not sure what to do with the box, it's so fantastic.  For now it's storing the blanket in between play sessions.

 Funny sidenote:  At one point I walked past the box and saw something nasty looking on the top and guessed it was poop (I'm kind of experienced in detecting this).  I reacted by asking (no one in particular) how poop got on the top and quickly checked Tommy's hands and feet.  Then Ashley said, "I think it was from his cheeky bum when he sat on it."  Don't worry, I cleaned it off and sanitized, all is well, but I'll try to keep Tommy and his "cheeky bum" off the top of the box, especially when he needs a new diaper.