Early Christmas Morning!

This Christmas started out very early with everyone looking for some coffee so that they could be Merry and Bright and prepare for what was about to start. It began as a quiet, festive celebration and after a quick bite to eat, turned into our usual screaming "look what I got" event. These pictures show some of the action.

Cubby showed up with his side kick - Freedom. These two have become buds.

Then some gooey, cinnamony, monkey bread.

I found that real mean do eat quiche if its got lots of bacon in it.

Nini found scratcher lottery tickets in her stocking and went right to work.

Dakota just assumed all the pink packages were for the princess.

Casey Jones - you are still my littlest boy even though you look more like a man every day.

Austin loved his buckaroo game.

It was definitely a lego year for Nathan. He will probably be busy for several months with all the lego sets he got.

Hailey loved her new, soft and cuddly robe from Mamie and Papa.

Hey Ryker, can Nana and Papa borrow those handcuffs. Never mind, we'd probably hurt ourselves anyway

Stop opening the gifts so slow, just rip it open and let us see.

Mikey loved his shirt, especially since he has worked so hard on the guns to go in it.

Coolness!

Poor Seth woke up not feeling very well but didn't want to miss out.

Somehow seeing green made him come back to life.

Austin checked out Ryker's new gas mask and fire set. Living with 3 guys makes me think I might need to get one of those masks. You know what I'm talking about.

I hope Dakota got some chapstick with those dolls, by the looks of things they might need it.

Sister poses.

My favorite!

Mikey on his motorized bicycle ringing in the holiday. Hope everyone had as much fun as we did.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

The tree, the ornaments, the candy houses, the weight gain, it is beginning to look like the holiday season. Hailey's acting lessons are paying off, she had a great performance in Charlie Brown's Christmas. The singing and acting was adorable. Austin has definitely been practicing his singing and was right on at his Christmas performance for preschool. Dakota and Ryker walk around the house all day singing their Christmas carols. Nathan has taken a few weeks off of baseball. All athletes need a rest at some point. The kids all had a great time at the annual candy house competition at the Ward's House. I think more frosting and candy ends up in their bellies than it does on the houses. We had a surprise visit from Len and Dan and they came with lots of Christmas goodies. With school kicking butt this last couple of months, there hasn't been a baked good in sight so it was awesome to get so many treats right before the holiday. We hope everyone has a great holiday and feels as blessed as we do with family and friends, laughter and love.

The kids worked all together to make this gingerbread person. Then they tore him to pieces and ate him right up.