Merry Christmas!

We would like to wish everyone (a little late) a very Merry Christmas! We hope everyone had a holiday.
Our Christmas started with the Christmas Eve children's mass, where Owen participated in the pageant.  Last year Avari got to be in it too, but this year the person in charge decided not to have the preschool religion class participate.  Avari was really disappointed, but she handled it well.  I know I've said this before, but I really think Avari is going to be the star of our family.  She loves doing this kind of stuff.

After mass, we went home to eat and open presents.  Like every year, since Owen was born, we invited my parents up for all of it.  It's kind of become our tradition, since they don't have plans on Christmas Eve.

When we got home the kids found that Chippy had left a note for them.  He told them bye and that his magic would be lifted for a little bit so they could hold him, hug him, and tell him bye. 

Merry Christmas Eve! 

After we ate,  it was finally time to open presents!  The kids were so excited!  Owen understood that he had to wait until Christmas Eve.  Avari did too, but she had to ask "how many more days, until we get to open presents", every day. :-) Easton only knew that he couldn't open presents until mamaw and papaw came to our house.  So from Saturday night, until Christmas Eve, he would tell us to call mamaw and papaw to come over, so he could open presents. Haha

Easton with his gifts from us.

Avari with her gifts from us.

Owen with his gifts from us.

We also gave them a baseball/softball pitching machine.

Family picture with the gift that Owen made for us at school.

It's a pencil holder.  He did a great job making it, and we love it.

The kids and I with the gifts that they picked out for me.

When I was at our Relay team's Thirty-one fundraiser, Alvin took the kids to Walmart to pick out Christmas presents for me.

Owen choose a football with light glasses, so we can play in the dark, when we are camping. :-)

Avari choose Operation.

Easton choose pots and a waffle maker.

I loved seeing what they picked, and we have tried them out already.

Alvin and the kids with the gift they gave him.

Owen picked out the chair color...camouflage.

Leaving milk, cookies, and carrots for Santa and all 9 reindeer.

When the kids woke up Christmas morning, they couldn't wait to see what Santa had brought them!

Easton got a 3-wheel trike

Avari got a Barbie dream house.

Owen got a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 for kids.

After opening Santa's gifts, we got dressed, and headed to Alvin's parents' house for Christmas Day lunch.  We enjoyed visiting with everyone, including Grandma Betz and Uncle Ralph.  The kids had a lot of fun playing with their cousins, and the gifts they all got.

Easton with his gifts from his Godmother, Ann.

Easton with his gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Boeglin.

Avari with her gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Boeglin.

Avari with her gifts from her Godfather, Danny.

Owen with his gifts from his Godfather, Kevin.

Owen with his gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Boeglin.

Late Christmas afternoon, we went to my parents' house for Christmas supper.  Katie, Adam, Harper, and Paisley were able to make it home, so the kids were really excited to see all of them.  Just like with Alvin's family, we had a great time visiting with my family, and the kids enjoyed playing with their cousins, their toys, and the dogs.

It didn't take Easton long to warm up to Katie this time.

Owen had to take his shark cargo plane along, so he could show Adam.  Then they had to put it together, and play with it.  Adam was telling Owen what the different parts of the plane did.

Easton with the gift that Katie and Adam gave him.

Easton and his Godfather, Adam.

Easton with his gift from Grandma and Grandpa Schum.

Avari and her Godmother, Katie.

Avari with her gift from Grandma and Grandpa.

Adam photobombing Katie and Owen's picture. :-)

Owen and Katie with the gift she and Adam gave him.

Owen and his Godmother, Emily.

Owen with his gift from Grandma and Grandpa Schum.

Dad showing off his yearly gift of Old Spice from Emily, Katie, and me.

Mom showing off the gift we gave her.

I think the kids were super excited about having Adam back home! haha

Yes, that's Adam W. in there.

Sporting our ugly sweaters. :-)

We had a great Christmas, and hope everyone else did too.  I'm glad that we got to spend time with all of our family members.  I loved seeing the excitement on the kids faces, when we saw Christmas lights, when it came to opening gifts, and leaving cookies, milk, and carrots out, and every morning between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, when they looked for and found Chippy.  Nothing beats seeing the kids joy and excitement at Christmas time!