Third Sunday Christmas was on the 23rd this year and really kicked off our excitement! We headed up a little early to get some one on one time with Great Grandma and Grandpa Larson and then made our way to the BIG celebration.
The kids, Charlie in particular, was super excited about taking pictures using the tripod. He must have posed for twenty pictures...
A little "treat for road" to eat in the car ride up to Nooksack...
Grandma had all sorts of activities for the kids to do before we ate dinner...
LOVE that he still wants me to call him my baby...
From FOUR year olds...
...to SIX year olds...
These two were buddies all night and somehow managed a few treats in Grandpa's chair...
We attempted a photo of the whole lot and this was the best one I got...
We ate some delicious dinner...
Then all gathered around before opening presents...
We tried something new this year and passed out the gifts ONE at a time. The kids were very patient and well behaved and it was fun to see each one's reaction to their gift. Uncle Tom was pretending to be Oliver's voice in this picture, letting the kids know how much he liked his gift...
Jack LOVED his LEGOS from the DeHoogs!
And Emily LOVED her Barbie pony set from them as well...
All of a sudden there was a loud THUD on the back door and all of the kids rushed to the garage to see what Santa had brought...
After all of the excitement in the garage we gradually made our way back inside to open a few more gifts. Vince was OVER-THE-MOON excited about his new hunting rifle. He kept telling us he was ready to get an elk!
Grandma and Grandpa got all of the kids these awesome sweatshirts. LOVE this idea!
The kids ran around and played until the cheers turned into tears and we took our sign that it was time to head on home.
Just looking back at Emily when she was in the same class makes my heart ache. It is amazing how quickly time flies. My favorite part of decorating the Christmas tree this year was placing Jack's handmade crafts and pictures next to Emily's. Having the same teacher as Emily, Jack brings home the exact same things, just with his own personal touch. It melts my heart and makes me proud all the same, watching him grow up into such a big boy...
While Emily takes after her daddy and LOVES to perform in front of an audience, Jack is a lot more like his momma. His firm stance, serious expression and robotic like movements were not eased with his tendency for stage fright. He practiced and practiced at home the days prior to the performance, careful to show us exactly what to do and what we were doing wrong. He did an excellent job singing but definitely viewed it as a serious job!
This was our first official year of not going to the Christmas Tree farm and getting a tree. The kids were feeling well again but it was a busy month since Bryan had class two out of the four weekends during the month. Instead we opted to send him to our local Haggen, pick out a tree and bring it home. I have to say that I did miss the excitement the day usually brings but we saved about $100 in gas and price difference by staying in Mount Vernon.
After church that Sunday the kids all helped decorate the tree. Emily's special job is to put the star on top of the tree but a few others wanted to take a turn as well this year...
Charlie went to church with us and then came home and helped us decorate the tree as well...
Baby Charlie "flew" the star up on his turn...
For a Haggen Christmas tree I think it turned out pretty well!
The kids had some donuts then played the rest of the afternoon.
That evening Elfie and Barbie snuck off to the fireplace mantel...
...while the kids were fast asleep...
The following Sunday we did some serious holiday baking for the neighbors...
Just before we had finished up Grandma and Grandpa Jones paid us a visit and brought Emily a new GUITAR! She was over-the-moon excited and quickly let us know that she wanted to replace her upcoming violin lessons with guitar lessons!
The only way we could get her away from the guitar was with little lefse making with grandma...
Charlie spent the entire evening cuddled up with grandpa (when he wasn't tugging him along throughout the house)...
The next week Auntie Jenny came up to visit for a few days while she was on Christmas break and we were still working...
The kids spent the whole day making cookies and playing away...
Do you think they put enough frosting and sprinkles on their cookies?
With the count down on to Christmas we were feeling very eager for break and some time together.
Not too long ago there were only two. There was surprise engagement on a sailboat, a whirlwind adventure through six different countries in Europe, ending with an amazing wedding in the Vatican. The story of two didn't last very long and in the few short years that followed three beautiful babies swept us off our feet.
Never wanting to miss a moment, I created this blog to help document our lives together. It's my way to freeze time, treasure every bit and piece of Emily, Jack and Charlie and reflect on my love for them as they continue to grow and change our lives every day.
