precious gifts: Holiday Recap 2010

The Thursday evening before Christmas found us over at Tads parents, where we all gathered. This family is also growing, 5 grandchildren in the house now, and more to come someday (no, not from me;)

new clothes....

no peeking!!!

Excitement as my in-laws realized we just got them a new dishwasher. Not just new, but new to them. Tads mother was THRILLED!! They have never had one (I couldn't live without mine). Now, his dad has a lot of work to do to get it up and running.

This $8 racetrack was the hit of the night!!! Cars were flying everywhere!

And last..... one silly picture!

Christmas Eve....

Was a busy day it was, trying to make sure all was done for Christmas and we had to get the cookies done for Santa!! Usually I have the sugar cookies made and all we had to do was decorate them. Not this year, I was baking them in the afternoon yet!! UGH! I was running behind all day! We did get them done, after we exchanged presents among ourselves and went to Christmas mass. The girls picked me out some beautiful jewelry and got their dad a new Iowa Wrestling shirt.

Heres the kids in their new pjs, as we get them new ones every year. I love picking out their new pjs, I don't know why, I just do:) They got out the cookies and milk for Santa and some beef sticks and carrots for the reindeer. Oh, and their Christmas lists out also, just in case Santa forgot what they wanted:) They were ready!!

Christmas morning.

Holy Moly!! Where to begin?? This picture doesn't do the tree justice at all. It looked so pretty on Christmas morning. All the presents wrapped in red and gold, lights twinkling, and lots of anticipation in the air!

Lots of Fun. Lots of Magic. We Believe in this house.

Skylar got an ipod, she was very excited!! Some of the best gifts come in small packages!

Jaden got her Zhu-Zhu pet. I don't get what the big fuss is with these, but she loves them!

The biggest present under the tree..... what could it be??

Cael got the book Otis. It is the sweetest little story about a little tractor named Otis. A must for anyone with a little boy. I could read this book every night;)

Getting ready to open the biggest (and last) present..... the excitement was building!

Diggin' in.... and it was a Wii!!! Kids were very excited, they had been asking for one for ages. I don't buy video games, good thing Santa came through for them.

The aftermath.......what a mess!! The wii, a new bike, ipods, soccer balls, zhu zhu pets, books, new clothes, new cds, new movies, craft projects and more!!! what fun it was!

skylar rockin!!

new bigger boy bike!! He doesn't even need the training wheels, but they were necessary in the kitchen!

playin' the Wii....

I think their favorite gifts were their Pillow Pets!! I can't believe I don't have a picture of the kids with them, they have been lugging them with them everywhere and uses them every night in bed.

It was a wonderful Christmas morning. I love Christmas morning!

As I tell my kids, Never Stop Believing...

Later in the day, we traveled down to my moms to celebrate with my wonderful mother, my 2 sisters and their families. There are 8 grandchildren there, ages 4-14, so it is a houseful, but oh so much fun!