Christmas 2012

Christmas came so fast!  It always does!  The kids were pretty excited about setting up the decorations the day after Thanksgiving.   Lincoln snapped some photos for me(without my permission), many of them are a little chopped, but this one turned out alright. 

I love how it captures my children truly.  I guess only a child photographer could get that kind of picture. 

A few days before Christmas, we went up to Mesquite to spend a day with the Hills family.  We enjoyed some great food, of course. It was our traditional mexican carne asada/puerco/pollo tacos.  So yummy!  I think I could eat those everyday!
We also did some gingerbread men decorating and a talent show.  Most of all, we enjoyed visiting with family.  We missed Zach's sister, Erin and Zac (her husband).  But everyone else was there! 



Christmas Eve we went over to my parents for the annual party/gift exchange.  My sister had a great program about the wise men, she unfortunately was home with a sick baby, but my mom took over for her.  My aunt brought her usual grab bags for the kids to choose from, then the kids watched a Christmas movie while the adults enjoyed our gift exchange game. 

One of the "Wise Men" explaining his gift
 

Aunt Lynnette, Uncle Scott and the grab bag bounty

 

Christmas day we woke up at our leisure, Lincoln was up first this year, but he still slept in until 7:30am.  We waited for Ned to wake up, then went in to discover presents.  It was a long wait for Lincoln and Gwen, but we fed them our traditional Christmas breakfast while we waited for Ned. 

The favorite thing in a stocking-Candy!

This year, we had the Christmas presents staged.  The kids dug into their stockings first, then opened presents and last, discovered how their stocking presents(Polly pocket dolls for Gwen and Hot Wheel cars for the boys) could be of more use when we went into the office to find a car track and doll house. 

Lincoln explaining how this was exactly what he'd "always wanted!"

Lincoln was pretty excited and Ned immediately sat down to play with the tracks, as if he already knew just what to do.  Gwen was a bit distracted with the car tracks before she discovered her doll house. 

It's fun being a parent on Christmas! 


Later that day, we went over to my parents again for Christmas dinner and time with family.  I love the Holidays!