Our Christmas Day

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful Christmas! It's hard to believe that it's come & gone.

Somehow it feels that every Christmas since we started our family just gets better every year! :)

 Here are a tons of pictures from our Christmas day.  We hope yours was wonderful too!

After opening presents from Santa at Mimi & Jim-dad's we headed back out to my sister's to do Christmas with my family.

The kids were eager and ready to open presents.  They set up piles for each person and waited patiently to open until after a delicious dinner and clean up.

I just love these goofballs!

My mom is the best gift giver.  She spends all year shopping here and there for the perfect gifts.  I just knew this frame was perfect for her!

 Jacey gets a doll from Grandma every year.

 Sisters in matching red boots.  Our farmer husbands now think we're ready to check sprinklers.  We'll see about that ;)

 So many gifts - so much love!

 These three immediately changed into their matching pjs.

 {The aftermath}

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." - Andy Rooney

 

After presents the kiddos had a great time playing with their toys.  Look at our custom harvest crew!  

This was our first year to celebrate Christmas day at my sister's house.  The extra space was nice and we didn't have to worry about picking up a mess before the evening party started at my parents house.

Jarret decided to show off his cotton candy making skills before heading into town for my parents annual Friends/Family PJ Game Night!

Us girls headed in a little early to get the food started and changed into our pajamas.

I found Grandma these jammys: "Watch out Santa, here comes Grandma!" #perfect

We had several people come to the party and we all had tons of fun.

Family, food, games, kids everywhere, pajamas...really, it can't get more merry than that!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spent the day celebrating with Tyler's parents and his siblings.  It's always one of our favorite days of the year.  I know the little cowboys certainly think so now that they have four boy cousins around.

That's right, Tyler's parents have six grandboys!   

Mimi and Jim-dad are quite proud of all these boys so we've started trying to get a group picture every year.

Here's a little trip down Christmas Eve memory lane:

2008 {Keeler's first Christmas}

2009 {Bryon's first Christmas}

2010

2011 {Kal's first Christmas}

2012

2013 {Brody's first Christmas & we welcomed Alexander to the family}

2014 {Phoenix's first Christmas}

And here we are Christmas Eve 2015:

Mimi loves her crazies boys :)

Phoenix wasn't a big fan of taking pictures so the task was a little challenging but oh, the memories we captured.  We're sure to treasure forever.

 After photos Tiffany tried to call Santa to check on his whereabouts.

 I finally caught this cute boy happy and loving on Santa.

After pictures we headed to candle light service with my parents.  We always enjoy this service together, and this year it was as special as ever!

Kal and me in our festive Christmas Eve wear :)
After church we headed back to Mimi & Jim-dad's for dinner and presents.

Before dinner we took a few family pics.

We loved having Granny this year!

Present time was a lot of fun!

Cookies for Santa.

Before Keeler went to bed, he asked me to set up a video to try to catch Santa.

Here's what we got ^

Keeler was the first one up on Christmas morning.  To keep him occupied, I showed him the video.  I sure wish I would have videoed his reaction.  Seriously, the most excited I've ever seen him.

Sharing the video with Jim-dad.

"In the eyes of children we find the joy of Christmas. In their hearts we find its meaning.”- Leland Thomas

Annual Baking Day

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve!!

 We traveled to my sister's last night for a fun cousin slumber party.  What better way to kick off the holiday celebrations?

Samantha and Jarret surprised the kids with a special snowman breakfast.

 Jakob and Samuel helped Jarret make homemade donuts.  The rest of us enjoyed sipping on hot cocoa, jamming out to holiday tunes and doing a few fun snowman crafts.

 After breakfast, my mom headed out to start our annual Christmas Baking Day!  It isn't Christmas Eve, Eve until the baking begins.

 How is Jacey officially taller than us, Samantha?!

 Grandma Kak got started on what we call "Grandmother caramels."  They're just the most delicious candy you'll ever eat but more importantly a sweet reminder and tribute to our late Grandmother, Sammy.

This photo was taken at Keeler & Samuel's first Christmas'.  However, it was also Grandmother's last.  The holidays have never been quite the same.  We miss her dearly.  The caramels always bring back the most wonderful memories and great stories to share with our kiddos to keep her memory alive. We LOVE you Grandmother!!

 Kallahan and Samuel helped aunt 'Manthy make cinnamon rolls.  Keeler was a good little supervisor.

 Jacey, Kallahan and I made a truckload of chocolate dipped pretzels.

 We also made sugar cookies but I guess we were too busy decorating to snap any pictures.

We look forward to our annul baking day each year.  The goodies we create are nice but nothing is sweeter than creating fun family memories and traditions. Eat, Drink and be Merry!!