Christmas Eva fun!

The kids were excited to put their Magic Reindeer food outside on Christmas Eva...most of Dylan's ended up on the ramp and in Eva's boot!!

And of course, we left cookies for Santa!

Christmas Eve

A couple of years ago we changed how we do Christmas presents for the kids.  We decided that we really wanted them to give more thought to what they were putting on their lists instead of wanting to put everything on that they saw.  

We decided on doing 3 gifts:  a want, a need and something to read.

The first year they weren't convinced but after they opened their gifts, I think they realized that they got things that they had asked for and were excited about what they got.  We have continued and now they just know it as they are making their lists for us and start talking about it before we even bring it up.  I think that this is a tradition that we will continue for many years to come!

Since we were in Madison this year, we decided to open the presents from us with the kids on Christmas Eve.  They sure were excited!!

 Really Mom...a picture? ;-)

Getting ready to open their "something to read."

 Next we did "a need."

Several years ago, the kids and I started getting Jason character pj's for Christmas...this year they couldn't decide between Batman and Ninja Turtles so we got both!  Mommy got penguin and puppy pj's too!

  

A new American Girl hoodie for a girl who LOVES her hoodies and sweatshirts

A new robe and slippers for Eva...Dylan got the same thing but he refused to let me take a picture since he was "half-naked!" ;-)

 And finally it was time for "a want."  And I love that as excited as the kids are about this particular present, they are also excited about their other 2 presents.  I wish I could remember who to give credit us switching to 3 presents for Christmas because I love it! :-)

 More Disney Princess legos for Eva...she LOVES these!!

 Rainbow Loom and bag to keep everything in for Kira!

 Power Ranger Mini Figures for Dylan with a new container for keeping his "special" Legos in.

Fun times for all of us!

Olbrich Gardens

The past few years we have enjoyed going to Olbrich Gardens for their Christmas train display.  The kids were excited to go again on Christmas Eve.  We were enjoying spending the holiday in Madison this year which is something that rarely happens.  It was SUPER cold on Christmas Eve so it was nice to have something that we could do.

Cookies, Reindeer Food and Friends, oh my!

We were so excited to have Gwyn and Lorelei come over to have a Christmas Party.  The kids had been talking about it for a couple of weeks because I wasn't so smart and told them about it! ;-)  Next time, wait a bit longer perhaps! ;-)

We started out with decorating cookies!  Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures while the actual decorating was happening but I think it's safe to say that Gwyn and I were both SHOCKED at how long they stuck with it.  We were fully expecting one or two cookies a kid then Gwyn and I finishing up...but we finally had to claim a couple of cookies for us to decorate! :-)

Here's the finished products though!

Next up was Christmas shaped pizzas but, ummm, yep, forgot to take pictures of those so moving along to making Magic Reindeer food......the idea was to mix oatmeal, colored sugar and sprinkles for the reindeers to eat then add glitter which would give them power to keep flying.  They kids may have thought I was a little weird but they did have fun making it!

It was such a fun day!  Can't wait to have another reason to whoop it up together!

Sometimes I wonder about this child.....

Jason said this morning that maybe I have some explaining to do because somehow she is a morning person!...and the only one in our house that is.

And she likes, no, LOVE snow!  

That alone raises some questions...at least until you look at her little, itty, bitty nose...then we know she's ours! ;-)