Christmas 2009

Christmas this year was so fun! Having kids makes it even better. I love all of the parties and hanging out with family. I love that as my kids get older they get more excited about it and remind us of our family traditions. I am obsessed with traditions! Growing up we had some that we looked forward to every year. The one I remember the most was Rudolf would always come in our room while we were sleeping and rub noses with us leaving our noses red! When I finally realized it was my mom putting lipstick on our nose I knew that someday when I had kids I would do the same.

Every year we make cookies for Santa and leave a snack for his reindeer. This year I totally spaced it, so before we put the kids to bed they were sad we didn't have anything. Luckily all of my awesome friends and neighbors brought by goodies all MONTH so we used some cookies from that stash. We had to improvise for the reindeer! We had some leftover cheesy corn yuminess from our Christmas Eve bash that night so we plopped some on the plate and called it good! Oh and we couldn't forget the hot cocoa. Santa and his reindeer (DAD) loved it. My favorite part is staying up late on Christmas Eve wrapping presents with John and filling stockings with the usual: an orange, candy, a toothbrush and a few small toys.

As a kid, we all use to sleep in the same room and freak out for hours waiting for Santa to come. We would wake up super early and run out and play with all of our presents before my parents would wake up. They would get mad because they wanted us to wait until 6am for them to be there. My dad devised a plan. He started setting up noise making booby traps in the hall so he could hear when we got up. Every year since then he has gotten bigger and better with his traps. He still did it this year for my little sis. My kids haven't gotten to the point where they sneak out early. But when they do, we will be ready!!



Christmas morning







Christmas Eve at my parents

His favorite uncle, Teebs

The grandkids act out the Nativity.

Bos was a shepherd

after we put up the Christmas tree