Our Wonderful Christmas

This last week has been a whirlwind of family, friends, fun, giving, love, singing, playing, and joy! Here is a brief overview of our week.

Cookie and Graham Cracker houses with the Hathaways: Thank you to Gena and Laura for putting together a fun evening for the kids. They had a great time, and it was fun to visit with everyone.

Christmas Eve with the Salmons:

This is one of the highlights of my holiday this year. As a family we went and spent the afternoon at 2 different senior homes. The kids were able to pass out gloves that we had wrapped with holiday ribbon and attached a Merry Christmas greeting from our family. We also sang carols, and played a few songs with our chimes. The women were so happy to see the children. The one lady on the bottom corner of this picture just wanted someone to hold her hand almost the entire visit, so we all took our turn. I think we may have begun a new Christmas eve tradition.

Afterward we went over to the Salmon's home and played games, ate some delicious food, opened gifts, played rock band, and did a puzzle. Grandma Salmon spent so much time making matching PJ's for the kids, and next week they all get to have a sleepover with their Grandma and Grandpa (minus the 2 babies). The kids are looking forward to it.
Above:Capri and Julia posing with their matching jammies- so exciting!!!

Below:Capri dancing with her uncle Brandon. He is so good with the kids, I know he will be an awesome husband and father one day.
Then we we went home and the kids decorated these sugar cookies and poured the egg nog. Bruin wrote a quick note to let Santa know that these were for him, and Capri drew a classic picture of Santa with a big round belly and all in red of course.

In the morning my kids were pleased to find their stockings full to the brim with tape, watercolors, and orange, and a stack full of every type of paper wrapped up for them to share. If you have ever been to my house you know how much my children love paper, and love to use lots of it (sorry to any of you who are green). Bruin also received a new pair of shoes, and Capri got some cute pink slippers. Hudson got some diapers, socks, and some new utensils (the kids thought it was great that Santa knew just what Hudson needed).

After opening some gifts from Mommy and Daddy we all traveled over to Grandma Heaps (my mom's) house for some more yummy Christmas food and the kids received several of the gifts they had asked for.

Bruin with his new guitar. Anyone out there willing to teach him how to play it? I'm not much help in that department-although I am trying to learn a little bit so I can help him.

Capri with her new butterfly decorations for her room. She has already decorated these and hung them on her wall in her bedroom. She wouldn't let these things go even when she was opening other gifts. She also received a water baby that she adores. She has slept with "Tinkerbella" the last 2 nights. Its funny that she thinks has declared the baby a girl despite the blue clothes and hat (oh well).

I thought it would be fun to post these beautiful gifts that Bruin and Capri got for me. Try not to be jealous all you mothers out there. I think these might be in the Salmon white elephant gift exchange next year.
Thank you to everyone who made our Christmas extra special. Now we are looking forward to a wonderful 2009 full of more memories and love.