Christmas Memories

 Well once again we somehow managed to make the nice list...smile.  After weeks of anticipation and "Christmassy" type outings and activities it was finally time for the big day!  I can't remember if we've done this in the past and who knows what we'll do next year but we were feeling a bit ancy to get started so we opened one special gift on Christmas Eve.  Thank you Grandma Gene for the family Christmas money.  The kids got a new game and they love it! 

Then we got busy preparing Santa his usual snacks of cookies and milk and carrots for the reindeer. 

This is a picture of the tree after the kids went to bed with the "Santa" presents added...

The stockings were filled...

 And finally about 7ish we all woke up and started the fun!

We had been at Target recently and both kids mentioned they "needed" monster trucks.  Santa must've been listening!

The new story readers are from Mom and Dad.  I am so glad we got them as both kids love the stories that they can now listen to independently!

And I was so pleased that they had the Super Hero stories available since I have trouble pronouncing all the names of the crazy characters anyway.   I prefer Arthur and the Bearenstain Bears.

They got reading right away!

Sister gave Best some cufflinks.  I love this picture.  They are so sweet to each other.

And Santa surprised her with some Style My Hair ponies.  We have had fun brushing and braiding their hair.

And of course...more Transformers.  This guy is called Bumblebee and right after this picture Peanut looked kind of disappointed so I asked, "Was that not one you particularly wanted?"  His response was, "No I really wanted it I just don't like to have to wait so long for it to be opened."  Ha!  He had only had the wrapping paper off for about 2 minutes!

The gift below is a tabletop baseball game.  Peanut was so excited to give it to his Dad.  He had a hard time not unwrapping it early himself!

Sister got her first big girl Barbies...

And thank you so much to Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Chuck for the fun gifts! Daniel Tiger's trolley moves and sings songs and Peanut loves anything he can build!

Santa did good this year with gifts of Legos and tea party supplies. 

Best needed some new luggage for hockey and business trips so we got him a set of "spinners."  He said he'd be happy to share them for our trips down South, thanks Best!

It's much too cold for gardening right now...that is unless you have an Aero Garden!  Best knew I was excited to get growing and found this nifty planter.  We've already got basil and dill sprouting!

The kids picked out some slippers for me.  I needed some that I could wear into the garage and on the rare occasion I have to take the trash out.  (Thanks to Best for mostly taking care of that cold job!)

I love these guys.  I'm thankful for 8 Christmases with Best, 6 with Peanut, and 3 with Sis.

 

After our little family Christmas at home we headed over to Gammie and Papa's house for more food and fun.  Thanks to my sweet in laws for the new pillows!

Aunt Kiki and the kids picked some great gifts for us this year.  Sis and Peanut have had lots of fun dressing these dolls in various fashions.

And we've all had some target practice in the basement with the new bow set that includes glow in the dark arrows!

I think Gammie has been itching to buy Sister an American Girl doll since the day she was born. Smile.  This was the perfect year for her to get her "Bitty Baby" and lots of fun clothes and accessories.  Thank you Gammie and Papa.

 

And boy was Peanut over the moon when he opened Swamp Police set from Gammie and Papa.  Peanut is so incredibly fast at putting these sets together now he had it done in one day! 

 Thank you to Aunt Mimi for the microscope and fun new book/game combo "Yeti in my Spaghetti"!  Such perfect gifts for this age and I love to play games with the kids!

The princess serving tea... 

First lego set complete...

Christmas is such a fun time.  Presents are exciting and when they are little it's just so entertaining to experience the Santa magic along with them.  We really did have so much fun between exhibits, Santa visits, crafts, stories, games, baking and lots of singing!  Now here's to keeping the fun going in the new year!  Happy 2017 friends and family!