Christmas Day Guests

On Christmas Day Lane and I invited our parents over for dinner. I made meatballs and potatoes (Grandma Ivy's recipe) and we had strawberry cheese cake for desert. Nothing too fancy or real healthy! It was nice to have our family over on Christmas, it made it feel more like the holidays. After dinner Lane got the cards out and played pinochle with Pat, Lonnie and Ardis. After a few hands mom and Pat switched spots. There were many fun stories told in between hands with lots of laughs. MaKena relaxed in the living room and watched her new Jake and the Neverland Pirates cartoon. I think she was a little worn out from the day. Jacob spent the day with his dad. It was a fun and relaxing Christmas day.

Lane, Ardis, Mom and Lonnie playing cards.
More card playing with Pat watching in the back.

There must have been a funny story told as Pat and Lonnie are laughing. There were plenty of stories told that night. What a fun night!

Sure looks like a serious game going on.

MaKena relaxing while watching her movie.

Santa Claus is coming to town!

On Christmas Eve after the kids got their PJs on we got a plate of cookies ready for Santa's visit. Both Jacob and MaKena had to pick out two cookies to leave for Santa on a plate by the fire place. Once the kids went to bed Santa did his thing and left some fun gifts for the kids. On Christmas day the kids were up early and eager to open their gifts. Its always fun watching them get so excited over their presents.

The plate of cookies for Santa. Jacob had to leave a note. I'm not sure if he thought Lane and I were going to eat the cookies before Santa came!? (Yes, I think he still believes and I love it!)

MaKena and Jacob opening their gifts on Christmas Day.

MaKena opening her new movie - Jake and the Neverland Pirates. She loves this cartoon.

Jacob with his new Twins calendar. He is a big Twins fan. My dad would be so happy!

The kids opening their big presents from Santa. MaKena crawled in the bag! Silly girl.

New sleds from Santa. We didn't have any snow at Christmas so MaKena became really creative with her sled and started sledding down her bed and the couch. I finally had to take it away because I thought she was going hurt herself!

Christmas Eve

Christmas was a little different this year for us. Every other year we spend Christmas with the Huseby's on Christmas and we usually spend Christmas with the Redfield's on Christmas Eve. But this year we celebrated Christmas with both sides of our family after Christmas. So Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were a little quiet. Christmas Eve I decided to bake some cookies with the kids. They were excited. I'm not a big baker so I usually try to find something easy to bake so its not stressful! A few years back I bought a spritz machine so we made spritz cookies. I let the kids decorate them with sprinkles before we put them in the oven. Several times I had to dump some of the sprinkles off the cookie sheet when MaKena finished as she liked to completely cover the little cookies! While the cookies were baking Jacob built a fort in the living room. The kids had a lot of fun playing in the fort all afternoon.

After we finished baking cookies we got ready to go to church. I love the Christmas Eve service at our church. I love all the Christmas songs we sing and just everything about it. After church we came home, ate supper quick and opened our gifts. I couldn't get the table cleaned off fast enough for the kids. They were eager to open presents. I enjoy watching their little faces light up after they opened a gift. Both kids got a big present this year and a few smaller presents. We saved the big presents for last. MaKena got a doll house and she was thrilled. Jacob got a new bike. He was very surprised and excited. He really needed a bigger bike! After the gift opening we let the kids play with their new toys and then it was time to call it a night so Santa could come and drop off their gifts. It was a great Christmas, a little quiet but still great.

The tree before all the presents were opened.
Jacob and MaKena playing by the fort.

MaKena decorating the cookies while Jacob watches like a hawk!

I decided to help to speed the process up a little!

MaKena reading the tag to see who her present is from. No, she can't read but she knows her name, Mommy, Daddy and Jacob so she could tell who her gift was from.

A Tinkerbell Puzzle. She loves puzzles and Tinkerbell!

Jacob ripping into one of his gifts.

MaKena with her My Little Pony.

Lane opening his new Bison sweatshirt from the kids.

My new Under Armour sweatshirt.

MaKena with her new pony shirt.

Jacob opening another gift. I think MaKena wanted to help him!

Jacob with his new outfit.

Lane with his new desk calendar.

MaKena and her jewelry making kit. She thought it was a game! Silly girl.

Jacob with his new book.

Me with my new desk calendar. Great minds think alike!

The kids by their big presents.

She was one happy girl when she saw her new doll house. She was jumping up and down. It was cute. Too bad I didn't record it.

Can you tell she was excited. Look at her grin!

Jacob opening his big present.

Jacob wasn't sure what his big present was right away. He didn't jump up and down like MaKena did but the grin on his face sure let me know he was more than thrilled with his new bike. That made my day!

Sunday School Christmas Program

The kids had their Sunday School Christmas Program on Sunday, December 18th. This would be Jacob's 7th Sunday School Program (if I'm counting correctly) and MaKena's first. MaKena was a little excited about the whole thing. She had a new dress to wear and I told her I'd fix her hair all pretty so she looked like a princess. About 5 minutes into the hair fixing she was already asking me if I was done! I actually got the curling iron out and curled her hair. She looked so grown up. Jacob, well, we just put a little gel in his hair and he was ready. Boys are so easy!

The program was great. The kids sang several Christmas songs and in between the songs the older kids would tell a Christmas story. We had decent seats but it never fails, one of the kids ends up standing behind the music teacher or behind someone taller than them. Well, sure enough, MaKena stood right in line with the music teacher. But we were still able to see her and get some cute pictures. She sang her little heart out, it was cute. After the program we gathered all the little kids and attempted to get a picture of Great Grandma Ivy with 8 of her 10 Great Grandchildren. Its always a difficult task but we manged to get a few.

MaKena looking pretty before the big Christmas program.
Jacob and MaKena before their program.

So cute!! Look how MaKena has her hand on Jacob's leg! HA!

MaKena walking up with her Sunday School class.

Jacob and McKayla during the program. They told me after the program that the flash on my camera was making them see spots. I guess it was a little bright!

MaKena looking cute!

McKayla and Jacob singing away!

Little Miss MaKena singing one of the songs during her program.

One of many attempts........

I'm not sure if this one is any better but at least all the great grandkids that were at church that night are in it!!

Its always so difficult to get everyone to look happy at the same time!

Now that's a little better!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom! Thank you for all you've done for me. You are an amazing woman. You have helped make me who I am today and I am so thankful I've had you to look up to. We hope you have a wonderful birthday, you deserve it. We look forward to celebrating with you. We love you mom!

Mom and Gunnar at Christmas.

Christmas with Grandma Ivy

We celebrated Christmas with Grandma Ivy and the rest of the Redfield clan on Saturday, December 17th. We all gathered at Carol and Keith's house for some fun family bonding. We had appetizers to start with and later Grandma ordered pizza from Pizza Ranch. After everyone finished eating we moved on to the gift opening. The kids were excited. It was mass kayos once the gift opening started, which is a given when you have 10 kids 11 and under! There even was a special guest that joined us part way through the gift opening. Uncle Steve dressed up as one of Santa's little helpers. It was pretty comical. The bigger kids knew it was Steve but the little kids weren't so sure. All in all it was a fun night.

Gunnar hanging out on Uncle Jason's lap.
Karisa holding Gunnar.
The kids waiting for gift opening time. (McKayla, William, MaKena, Karlee and Mallorie.)
Jacob with his gift from William. I love how MaKena is climbing on GiGi's lap in the background.

MaKena hanging with GiGi.

Emma, Jen, Gunnar and Karlee.

Santa's helper aka Steve.

Gunnar wasn't too sure of Santa's helper. He gave him a good stare down.

MaKena with her gift from Emma. She LOVES this movie!

The kids opening their gifts from Grandma Kathy.

Jacob with his PJ's from Grandma Kathy.

Auntie Jenny and MaKena.

Grandma with her picture book from us.

The kids opening their gifts from GiGi. They all got little pillow pets and a soft fuzzy blanket.

Can you tell they all loved their new pillows and blankets.

Emma and Gunnar playing around.