The Christmas Post

First of all, here is our ginger breadhouse. It was our first attempt. It was perfect and SO cute until I tried to move it off the white tray and onto a really pretty silver tray....BAD IDEA! The whole thing fell apart and I had to try to "glue" it back together with what little bit of icing I had left. It was looking more like a gingerbread shack when it was all said and done...but oh well. We still had lots of fun and the best part? I got it on clearance for only $4.00!!

The weekend before Christmas, we went to our little hometown to celebrate Christmas with Matt's family. Dec 20 is also Matt's mom's birthday so we did birthday/Christmas together. Here are some pics from that:

This is all the grandkids standing below their stockings at Nana's house (Matt's mom).

Brooklyn about to hand Nana her birthday present.

Matt and his little brother Cale sharing a laugh.

Nana with all her grandkids in front of her birthday cake.

Brooklyn wearing the birthday crown since her birthday is coming up next!

Me and my hubby---still infatuated with each other! Gross, I know..but hey--it's better than the alternative!

Matt's grandma, Nane, with all of her GREAT grandchildren!

My handsome hubby posing for a picture for his camera-crazy wife! :o)

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We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We had 20 in all at our house on Christmas Eve (4 of which were kids) and we played Family Bunco. It was lots of fun and I loved it that we ALL did something together! Afterwards we played Dirty Santa and did an ornament exchange. I'm sort of anal about having the whole evening planned out, but I didn't want people to start segregating into little groups. I wanted us to all be together for the whole evening--and we were and it was perfect! I didn't get any pics of it though because I had the video camera out instead. Got lots of video footage that will be fun looking at for years to come!

On Christmas morning we slowed down and let the kids open their gifts one at a time first before us adults started opening ours--one at a time. It took us about 2 hours to open all the gifts but for the first time ever, we were all able to see what each other got. I loved it! We will definitely make that a tradition from now on!

Here are a few pics from the all the fun!Here is one during/after most of the present opening was done! What a MESS! We are such a BLESSED family. Not just because of all the material things...but because of all the LOVE!

Me and my daddy! Do you see the resemblence?

Me and my daddy--how we usually look. He's big on affection--which is probably why I am the way I am. If you love someone---I say SHOW IT! I love this picture! Brooklyn got a "spa" for Christmas and she wanted everyone to take a turn getting their feet done! Here is Matt being a good sport!

And of course, I can't end this post without one last pic of my favorite Christmas present of all--Kinley! (Thank you SO MUCH honey for letting me get her!) She slept on my chest almost all night last night (on the couch) and I think we bonded. ahhhh....bliss!

We also gave her a bath today and she looked SO cute!

And right now, as I type this...she is right here next to my keyboard just snoozing away! tee-hee-hee (ohhh...ignore the MESSY desk!)