Magical

Our Christmas was magical this year. We kept it low key. We tried not to overdo the gifts. We spent a lot of time talking about the real meaning of Christmas, and we spent lots of time making special gifts for each other.

We spent Christmas eve with family. The usual traditions: we went and ate Chinese, and then stopped by Sister Rose's house, then came to our place and read the Nativity and had the kids act it out.

Mary and Joseph (aka Tatym and Aden)
A squirmy baby in the inflatable cradle

Marlo's loving her new soft blanket!

Then the kids opened their Grandparent gifts. Fuzzy blankets with their name and number from the Dudleys and Grandma jammies from the Francis side. Both were a big hit.

Christmas morning started early. We were up before 6 am. Had all the gifts opened, had a big yummy breakfast, and still managed to get to church on time at 9:30. We came home and napped and then went to Angie and Randy's for Christmas dinner.

All the kids with their cozy blankies
Grandma Pajamas
Cooper can't take his clothes off quick enough...he loves new clothes

Santa made it!

The gifts the kids made each other

Cute faces on Christmas morning...














Marlo did not want to let go of her little bear...



Not even when she ate breakfast

Christmas dinner at Angie's

On New Year's eve, we had everyone over here. Cam and Preston came into town, and Tim's brother Darren's family all came out, Angie and Randy's family, and his parents. We had the obligatory jello eating contest, which Angie dominated (so gross, truly). Played some games and then had the big count down (New York time for the littler kids).
New Year's Eve...Jello eating contest




HAPPY NEW YEAR
It was a fun and exhausting, which is how it should feel if you are doing right, I say.

Isaac tooting his horn at Titus...