Christmas at Home

Usually we are traveling for Christmas, so this was the first year that we had a normal Christmas together at home, with just our family. I can't count 2011 - we were home but it wasn't normal. I had just given birth to Ruth, and was discharged from the hospital on Christmas day. We didn't open presents till that evening. It was nice to have a quiet Christmas day at home. Here's some highlights.

On Christmas Eve, we took a few photos with the tree after the Christmas Eve service (where everyone insisted on holding their own candle, played with the paper protector and managed to burn themselves and scream during the peaceful service, all 30 seconds apart from each other...).

Ruth was mad that she couldn't hold Jonathan

Ruth's happy now! Faith (off camera, is now mad)

Faith's happy now!

Christmas morning:

 

That's a lot of stockings....

Ruthie got a Cleveland Browns cheerleader outfit

More Laser Pegs (aka light-up legos) for Nathan!

 

And treats for Gramma were super popular!

 

The kids introduced Jonathan to "Row-Row", he has his own now.

In a few months he'll actually care ;)

A book about unicorns from Gramma!

And Faith got her own Cleveland browns cheer outfit!

Jacob and his "dremel" - ok, so mommy brain struck again. I THOUGHT I was buying a "Better dremel" I sort of missed the point that "Oscillating" doesn't mean it spins.... But Jacob says this was on his "want list" anyways. But, um, what tool ISN'T on his want-list?!?  Besides a pink hammer. Glad he's happy with my mistake anyways. Maybe next year he'll give me a list ;)

Ruth was super happy with her dollhouse!

I must note that this is about when I opened my gift: a new camera lens. Which I love. But I took a lot of blurry pics the first few days ;)

Faith got a dollhouse, too! We didn't get to build it beforehand. But Daddy & Pa built it last week and it's in the decorating phase. We'll share photos when it's done. She loves it, by the way!

 

Nathan's favorite gift? His own "real" Bible.

It may, or may not be a close 2nd to his new legos ;)

 

Ruth and Faith, admiring Faith's dollhouse furniture set.

Auntie Sara and I helped her put it together and paint it last week.

 

Ruth loves her glasses from Gramma!

(For those curious about my new lens - this photo is an example of what it does. In layman terms, it takes sharper photos, uses light better, and can blur backgrounds like this)

 

And Daddy got a badminton set!

Too bad it's been too wet and/or too cold to play yet. I realize I shouldn't complain about rain and 42* temps when many of you reading this are buried under snow and -40 wind chills. But I'm not sorry ;)

 

Nathan also got a Mario Kart game for his DS.

 

Jonathan likes his inchworm toy.

Or maybe he likes sitting like a big kid with Daddy?

Either way, he's happy!

 

And adorable! :)

 

Ruth's dollhouse has been a hit, too!

 

After presents and brunch, Daddy & Jonathan relaxed to some football.

 

And the big kids and I finished our gingerbread barn.

 

I've always wanted to try to make something from scratch made gingerbread. But I knew I'd end up with a mess. So I surprised myself!! And the kids surprised me; they did 90% of the candy!! Even Ruth did well placing candies!! (after she licked some of them first... haha)

 

We made some treats to share with our neighbors, and I packed for my whirlwind trip to MI. It was  good Christmas at home, just the 6 of us. It certainly wasn't quiet ;)