Merry Christmas!! (at last)

Look at our handsome man all decked out with the big grin!

And really, he's not as muck choking his sister as putting his arms around her, really!

Well after a number of activities and family events and extended family events marking the season, we've finally made it to Christmas -- whew!!

We had come up with the idea to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with all of the kids -- nothing really extravagant, a piece of special candy, a small book, a cool brush that folded in on itself, slippers, chapstick (ok, so no the best idea for a 2 & 3 year old, we recognize that now). But they loved it. It took about 6 or 7 days to full grasp and anticipate what the heck was going on. The first couple of days they would only hold the small wrapped gift in their hand or hand it back to us to ask for help. By day seven they began to tear into the Christmas paper. And while each got a version of the others, they would pause and watch the others open theirs and then ravage their package. We neglected to get any pictures (I know, duh), but we were spending so much time explaining and encouraging them, when they finally opened their gift it went pretty fast -- next year, we promise!

Grandpa Steve's and Grandma Rosie's HUGE  box of goodies came around mid December (you can't imagine how out of pattern this is for our family, so it put a reminder & pressure on us to get our act together). The kids saw the huge box, but didn't really say anything about them. We set them up around the tree in the basement and then called the kids down to check out the bounty. Again, they were a little mystified on what it all meant. Finally they seemed interested, but also interesting they really didn't mess with the gifts again -- we suspect that to change in coming years if they follow our patterns. They were curious and would rearrange them around the tree, but there was no peeking.

Then the big day and we had early Church. Our ward typically meets this year from 9-12. For Christmas, they reduced the services to the first hour. So we got up (after little sleep ourselves, finishing up last minute tasks and assembly) and got everyone ready for church and headed out the door with little incident, Brooklyn and Jace never expressing an interest in going downstairs to see if Santa had been here - whew, lucky for us or we would have never made it out the door on time. Again, may not be the same scene next year.

But at least we got a few shots of them before we scooted out the door.

See, much better pose

We came home and my sister and her family joined us for Christmas & we Skyped in Grandpa Steve and Grandma Rosy from Oregon. We hooked up the computer to the TV, bought a small inexpensive camera for the TV, figured out how to turn off the camera the kids can see (we've found they're distracted by their own good looks :-P ) and set out to have a multi-state Christmas, not sure how it would go.

The gifts, for both families, practically went around one half of the room -- this is the start where Jace is surveying the stash with Autumn's help.




I'm so glad we got and set up the small tramp -- it became intermission as they took several bounces between each guft


Autumn -- loving IT, whatever It was.


Jace showing me vs Grandpa and Grandma -- but at least he's getting the idea.



Now everyone's getting into the act.




Even Dad who came right home from Church and put on his lounge pants as if that's how we started the day!


Aunt Jeni playing Santa and keeping the gifts flowing, which was a good thing because there were so many of them.




Uncle Bren taking a picture of himself enjoying his gift (no, I don't know what all of the silly white dots are)


Uncle Bren, now enjoying his gift -- big soft comfy robe.




See, there's the family in Oregon via Skype


And there you can see the gifts continuing around the room. Jeni's able to sit in that chair which was previously full of more gifts


Dad and Uncle Bren relaxing and chating with Grandpa Steve.  On the table was a big hit -- race track we saw at the Discovery Center but then later found at the local mall -- yeah!


Another big hit -- the carpet for the cars, planes, and motorcycles.


Showing off the goodies to the folks on the TV


Grandpa watching Jace and the festivities


Now Grandpa is telling us that Grandma Rosy's skyping with her sister in Mexico, so we have to say Hola and Feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas) to her and her family.... that's right a skype, on a sjype, on a skpye -- sounds like something out of Dr Seuss.

Another big hit -- miniature food. The kids love to take out their cooking set 'cook' while mom or dad are cooking in the kitchen, which helps everyone.

I think it went off pretty well. Brooklyn was great about 'showing" everything to the TV and her grandparents as were Autumn and Matthew, Jace needed a few reminders. But the pictures were quite clear & we had a great time bringing everyone together.

Later that afternoon, we headed over to Chris' house for the Cooper version, slightly smaller since we draw names since we're such a large group. We enjoyed lunch and visited, and skyped Aunt Penny and the family in Alabama, and the kids played with the Cooper  cousins and then brought home more booty.


Aaaahh, Pretty tree -- nice job Uncle Chris.





Now everyone's had time to open their first or second round of gifts and can finally start playing with them


Or lounging about.


Uncle Chris not wanting to put Mariella down now that she doesn't cry every time he looks at her.


Taylor waiting so patiently to get the food. If only someone would stop taking pictures and get out of her way.


And this one is pointing out what she wants and more importantly -- doesn't want.


This ones not interested in any of the food if it will require putting down his cousins nerf gun


But clearly he has seen all of the goodies -- and this isn't even all of them.




Starting to wind and wear down -- both of them.


But happy to be with Dad and Grandma Jacquie


We love book!!


& Books with Games!!


Cole trying to get our attention by waving around his arms, even though he's not done with lunch.


Modling the cute play skirt from Ryan and Tia -- loving it.


Cole, checking out all of the noise!!

Then later that night (see aren't you tired, now you know why it's taken so long to get this all posted) my sister hosted Christmas dinner and we all headed over there for some more family, food, and fun. Guess we could have skyped that as well -- oh well, that's what next year is for.

The More the Merrier!

We were able to spend some time before Christmas with Jace and Brooklyn's biological family including grandmothers, grandfathers, great grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts, cousins along with Cole's birth mom and birth grandmother.

We had been talking about the upcoming visit with the kids all week to help get them prepared for the visit and who we might see. And so it wasn't too much of a surprise. Although I think they both were a little overwhelmed by such a large outpouring of love from so many people all at once it was a little much to adjust too, especially right at first.





But within about 15-20, they both started warming up and relaxing a little, especially Brooklyn.


But food seemed to help.




And they both got so many presents. Everyone was so generous and really went above and beyond for the two of them.











We were able to get a few shots before the battery in the camera find gave up -- but luckily there were plenty more people with cameras to record the special day.