Christmas

We started a new tradition a couple years ago of going to the Grand America down town and seeing their windows and gingerbread houses. We went with the Nelsons again this year and it was really fun. It's warm and you get a treat at the end from their fancy sweet shop. Here are the girls posing with Santa at the hotel.

 My family always does our "Christmas Eve" the Monday before Christmas. The kids love seeing their cousins and doing the nativity and we've also started having the kids perform Christmas songs that night too. We end the night with ice cream pie and a story by my mom. It's always a great night!

 And then we have Christmas Eve with the Nelsons. Nate's brother Cameron and his family come at Christmas and it's always great to see them.

 Laura dressed Josh up as Santa Clause. He was a good sport.

We also do the nativity with Nate's cousins and their kids.

 When we get home, the kids all like to sleep in the same room. We sing Christmas carols until they fall asleep. Since this was the first Christmas in our new house, we had to do some rearranging of beds so they could all sleep together, but it's a tradition the kids don't want to change. This picture is of Christmas morning...waiting to go see what Santa brought. They all wanted "feetie" jammies this year, so that's what they got. They were all so cute and excited!

 Here they are playing our new wii. I wish I had a picture of the other favorite gift from Santa--a tarantula name Mrs. Fuzzalina Fuzball. It was Lia's idea but all the kids love it...although she does make Megan a little nervous.