Christmas 2013

It's so hard for me to believe that another Christmas season has come and nearly gone. What a fun Christmas we had this year. The kids are at SUCH a fun age. They loved waking each morning to find where Kid the elf had landed on his return trip from Santa. He often reminded the kids to do good deeds for others, which was a welcome change to just simply encouraging good behavior. We talked a lot about giving more than receiving and sharing our blessings with others. Hopefully we can continue this tradition.

We kicked off Christmas eve by heading to my parents for the Hall side Christmas. The kids looked adorable all dressed to match in their Sunday best, and they did a relatively good job of staying clean through our Christmas dinner! We went to the 6pm Children's Mass at Sacred Heart, then back home to open gifts and enjoy family. Here's our night through pictures.

Our family

Jason didn't get the goofy memo!

God father picture!

Testing the camera. So, so many captions for this one....but I'll refrain...

Best we could get!

About the time we started cussing our camera....Em & her Hello Kitty bath set!

Keaton got a new phone!

Colton trying on his skateboard pads!

Tervis Tumblers for everyone! (Personalized too!)

So, you may be wondering why Colton a 5 year old rough and tumble boy was still in his dress clothes for gifts, while Em quickly jumped into her snugly jammies. When I asked him if he wanted to change, he very seriously said to me, "Mom. No, because, well, if I get clothes, I mean, I will want to try them on so..."......as if to say, duh Mom...why would I change again?? And he did immediately try on every piece of clothing he received.

Jason and I were blessed as well with the gift of a new camera. I've been wanting a SLR camera for some time, and Grandma & Grandpa spoiled us. See if you can tell a difference in our pictures from Christmas Eve to Christmas day. We LOVE it!

Christmas morning came, and Santa did too. Colton decided that while he and Em were to wait on the stairs to see if Santa came, he'd just go ahead and get dressed into the outfit he was going to wear that day. Strangest 5 year old boy EVER. Anyway -- the kids finally came around the corner to see if Santa came and this was the discussion.

Colton: "oh, my dirt bike I asked for must be outside. Santa probably didn't want to bring it in"
Emmalyn: "YAH! A bike! I wanted a bike!!"
Mom, cautiously: "Colton, remember, we don't always get everything we ask for from Santa. That's why it's called a wish list...we can wish for it, and sometimes our wishes might come true"
Colton: "Oh, so I got a air rifle. Cool".........completely unimpressed...because he thought it was another toy gun like the one he already has. He had no idea it was really a Red Ryder BB Gun -- go ahead, repeat the lines from A Christmas Story in your head. I did as I typed it! :)

Santa's left his loot!

Everyone had to help Keaton open his gifts.

Emmy opening her gifts.

Colton was thrilled with his guitar (even though he knew what it was by the wrapping!)

Keaton loved the wrapping paper!

Christmas Morning snuggles.

Thank goodness Santa brought bb's for that bb gun!! He was trying to figure out which stores would be open to be able to buy bb's. Santa hid the bb's in his stocking -- opened last!

Testing out his bb gun!

We finished cleaning up our mess, then Jason and Colton went out in the 5 degree weather to load up two calves that were heading to the butcher the day after Christmas. That was a Christmas day adventure - Emmalyn isn't too young to babysit Keaton, right? I mean, 3 years old is a perfectly fine age to babysit, right? Thankfully...he just chilled out on the floor while I snuck out to finish helping load the calves.

We cleaned up from that adventure and headed to the Stockment side! Another blessed gathering -- the kids played hard with their new toys from Santa and then we set to opening gifts and clearing out Gram & Gramps tree.

Jason and Jacki

Stockment Siblings

Meredith helping Keaton open a gift!

Jason is a happy, clean shaven camper!

Emmalyn checking out her fits!

Madi was pretty excited about her sleeping bag!

I love this next set of pictures. Brad & Jack had agreed to not get each other gifts...but Jacki broke the pact. In her defense, it was just a gift they both needed, that she had fun wrapping and giving to Brad, but his facial expression are priceless!

Realizing she broke the pact, but he kept it.

Begging forgiveness!

I just love their faces here! HA

After a full afternoon at the Stockment's, we loaded up three tired kids and packed in a few more hours with the Hancock side. It was great to see Grandma and my Aunts/Uncles. Lots of laughs, and a few surprises!