We stayed in STL this Christmas - way too much going on (and too many boxes unpacked) to go visit family. So family came to us!!! So grateful to be only 9 hours away from Texas family and 2 hours away from my sister! Mike and Sarah and the kiddos came on Christmas Eve and Amanda, Chris & the kids came the day after Christmas and my parents and Matt came a couple days later. It is so nice to have enough space in the new house to have guests (and a basement to throw the kids in haha). We had so much fun. I loved seeing my kids play with all of their cousins. Makes me smile pretty big : D
Christmas day was a whirlwind of wrapping paper, stocking candy, squeals of joy and squeals of "YOU OPENED MY PRESENT". It was pretty hilarious having Bailey, Ragen & Hunter trying to open presents as fast as they could - they didn't care much what was inside or who the present belonged to. They figured it out about the time we hit the last present of course (after lots of snot and tears)
THE CORNUCOPIA!!!
Our itsy bitsy teeny tiny tree makes the mountain of gifts look MUCH more impressive haha
The kids were banned to the basement until
the adults were awake and good n ready to start the present opening frenzy. Kenz & B were NOT happy (as you can see) about being locked down there watching the little kids while mind-blowing joy was waiting up stairs.
Bailey got a sweet grocery basket &
Braxton got "Brock" - a talking dino robot thingy
This was absolutely hilarious! McKenzie has had some serious listening and obeying problems the last month or so. We kept telling her Santa knew she wasn't being very good but she STILL asked for a stinking swing set! Of all the NERVE! Well the big day came... B & Bug got what they asked for from the big man. McKenzie was very confused when she got a swing - just a swing - not the set - and a card from Santa. The card explained that she hasn't been 100% good so Santa told the elves not to build her 100% of what she asked for. If she was really really good maybe her mom and dad would help her build the rest of her present. It took until Jan 9th for her to be good enough for us to build it. Maybe that'll teach her. Nope - doubt it!
The second picture I snapped to get her reaction to seeing pieces of a swing set on our hot mess of a back deck. I did not realize until looking at the pictures later that BAILEY, not McKenzie, had the best reaction of the whole day caught on camera! SHOCK AND AWE PEOPLE! SHOCK AND AWE! HILARIOUS!
CLOSE UP! ... I can just hear her little high-pitched voice...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH"
Our itsy bitsy teeny tiny tree makes the mountain of gifts look MUCH more impressive haha
The kids were banned to the basement until
the adults were awake and good n ready to start the present opening frenzy. Kenz & B were NOT happy (as you can see) about being locked down there watching the little kids while mind-blowing joy was waiting up stairs.
Bailey got a sweet grocery basket &
Braxton got "Brock" - a talking dino robot thingy
This was absolutely hilarious! McKenzie has had some serious listening and obeying problems the last month or so. We kept telling her Santa knew she wasn't being very good but she STILL asked for a stinking swing set! Of all the NERVE! Well the big day came... B & Bug got what they asked for from the big man. McKenzie was very confused when she got a swing - just a swing - not the set - and a card from Santa. The card explained that she hasn't been 100% good so Santa told the elves not to build her 100% of what she asked for. If she was really really good maybe her mom and dad would help her build the rest of her present. It took until Jan 9th for her to be good enough for us to build it. Maybe that'll teach her. Nope - doubt it!
The second picture I snapped to get her reaction to seeing pieces of a swing set on our hot mess of a back deck. I did not realize until looking at the pictures later that BAILEY, not McKenzie, had the best reaction of the whole day caught on camera! SHOCK AND AWE PEOPLE! SHOCK AND AWE! HILARIOUS!
CLOSE UP! ... I can just hear her little high-pitched voice...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH"
Ragen, Hunter, McKenzie, Bailey & Braxton in front of the tree. The best of about 20 pictures we took in this same position hoping they would smile and cooperate. Taking good pictures of one kid sucks - 5 kids sucks 5 times as bad!
Some of my favorite present opening pics and some of the kids very favorite presents! I loved that anytime Bailey opened clothes or dress-ups she immediately stripped off what she was wearing to put on her new outfit.
The next day Amanda, Chris, Rilea & Dylan came to play!
Which also meant more presents to open!
Magic House day of fun (and exhaustion haha)
The kiddos were SO excited when Grandma, Pa Pa & Uncle Mashoo got to our house! Again - more presents to open and more pictures too take : )
I am so grateful we got to share our Christmas with people we love SO much. Thank you to Mom, Dad, Matt, Mike, Sarah, Amanda & Chris for sacrificing so much to be here. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
