Christmas Pics

OK, I finally got around to downloading my camera pics onto our computer and now I can post them. These cover a few weeks during the Christmas season, so be ready for a long post! We actually had a few different "Christmas Celebrations" with the family this year.

Ian and I trade off years with our parents and this was our year to stay in Texas for the holiday. My mom's side of the family could only get together a week before Christmas, so we all celebrated a bit early. The Kirkland's sent tons of boxes full of presents so the boys got to open all those and celebrate the Kirkland Christmas a day early.

Then, Adam and Chandra flew in from China with their two boys on Christmas Eve. My dad's side of the family came over on Christmas day so we had that celebration together. Then, about 4 days later my mom's brother and his daughter came into town and we all got together again to go to the museum.

So, this year involved about 3 weeks of straight Christmas time! :) Of course the boys were in heaven. Here are pics from the holidays.

Elijah, Noah, and Joaquin getting their baths before heading to bed. It was quite a chore to have the boys all sleeping in rooms next to each other at MiMi's house. They loved to shout through the walls to each other and see how long they could resist falling asleep! :)

They LOVED playing together, if you can't tell

Cynde (my dad's sis), mom and dad. Cynde brought over all these old pictures of people from my dad's family for them to look at. They had so much fun remembering all the faces.

Chandra and baby Tristan in his cute little Christmas outfit

the boys having some snacks at the booth table

Christmas morning. The kids were so excited to see all the goodies in their stockings!

Playing legos

Joaquin, MiMi, Namama and Elijah next to the freaky mannequin mom dressed up as Santa. It scared everyone at night to see him in the light of the hallway.

Namama and Bill gave the boys little Peter Rabbits and the book series for Christmas. It was a special treat for them to all sit down and read the book together!

And, this was the mega-gift of the season... the mini-drumset

Uncle Bobby, Aunt Mary, and their girls gave the boys a drumset just their size and, as you can imagine, it blew them away!

The biggest issue has become sharing time with the drums...

Christmas is so much more fun with little kids around.

Their little faces just light up with joy when they get to unwrap something!

Another musical toy the boys love!

Uncle Brett gave Elijah a cool cat keyboard with a microphone!

The reading of the Christmas story is a tradition. Someone is selected every year to read Luke 2 before we open all the presents.

Uncle Bobby was the reader this year. It has become a very special reading and we all say a prayer of thanks afterward.

Joni's outfit for Christmas day

There is always music when the family gets together.

Before everyone heads to bed at night the guitars usually come out and we all sit around to listen to the guys play.

Almost asleep while cuddling with Uncle John

Elijah was getting sleepy...

Uncle Jeff, Elijah, Joaquin and cousin Brett watching the Veggie Tales story of St. Nicholas

Uncle Jeff and Elijah became fast buddies

And Uncle Bobby and Joaquin became fast buds too!

Uncle Bobby reading a night night story to Joaquin

Uncle Jeff let go of Joaquin hanging onto that kitchen library ladder pole!

typical scene from the guys playing pool upstairs

Our room at MiMi and Papaws house for the holidays

Brett concentrating on his shot :)

I'm not sure who won that game, but Joaquin couldn't stand not getting to roll the balls around on the table! It was all Ian could do to keep him from storming the table.

Papaw and Joaquin; they have the same baby-blues

the gals- Namama, Mary and mom

getting ready for dinner; Em, Namama and Elijah

Namama and Elijah saying cheese

Elijah and Namama had so much fun together

Joni's Rudolf T-shirt (says "Rudolf's got nothing on me")

The typical, everyone always ends up congregating in the kitchen!

Elijah, at his MDO Christmas party, eating all sorts of sugar goodies

Joaquin at his school Christmas Party.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my little sunshine!