Christmas 2013

Christmas, truly a marathon - the fun kind! We left off with an unfinished gingerbread house, mission complete.

Finley took a final spin of rearranging our presents, desperate for me to say, Just open one which didn't happen.

Chippy left the kids a message to check my email for two important messages from Santa.

Finley was thrilled to know he made it on the nice list.  The Portable North Pole is pretty neat, you upload pictures and specific information and it sends a personalized message to each kid.  Hook, line and sinker when you see/hear Santa talking about YOU!  After fist-pumping with a quiet YES! when the naughty/nice meter landed on 'nice', Finley admitted he'd been a little worried. 

On Chippy's final visit, he set out their Santa bags and gave them each a snowglobe with a message he'll be back next year.

The night before Christmas Eve, we had a FaceTime-Christmas with Auntie Aryn. She was able to watch the kids open the presents she'd sent.  That's Aryn on the iPad on the coffee table :)

Christmas Eve started off perfectly quiet. Coffee, my book, my boy and snuggles.

To bide time until Christmas is finally here!  the kids stayed busy playing with a few early gifts from others.

Christmas Eve evening was spent with family at my parent's house.

Hadley was in love with our newest family member, the adorable one-month old Piper.

After everyone arrived, there was a mysterious knock on the door.

 Santa!

He had a present for everyone!

Plenty of paparazzi too.

Hadley must've gotten lost in the excitement - she jumped onto Santa's lap!

Grandma made a delicious Christmas dinner.

Jewel read the Christmas Story.

And it was back to Piper-snuggles. Hadley cried when we tried taking her away.

We finished our evening with the annual Wii-bowling tournament. There were four heats, the winner of each went onto the championship - Finley made it for the kids, but Jenn was our big winner!

We came home, kids went to bed and Santa did his thing.

Finley was incredibly patient until Hadley woke up.

Ready, set, go!

Nothing beats watching your kid open something he really, really wanted.

The race continued.

The expressions and excitement are priceless.

We headed back to Grandpa & Grandma's, the kids played with boxes until we could open presents.

We had a yummy brunch and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus (Finley's idea).

 Cute girl.

 I begged for a cute picture together - total fail.

Present time!

It's busy with all eleven of us!  We attempted one gift at a time, but after awhile we gave in to chaos.  Fun chaos, but chaos.

 It's tiring.

When Hadley was a baby, Auntie asked if she could buy Hadley her first dollhouse. We decided this was the year.  We wanted a dollhouse that could be well-played, but also one that would be a keepsake.  It's perfect!

Sister LOVED it.  And went right to playing.

The adults had our annual gag-gift exchange.  The rules - we draw names (names are kept a secret), gift must pertain to the recipient, a $25 limit and reusing/making a gift is allowed.

Heidi never remembers Patrick's birthday, she's texted him twice ever, one year apart and both one day after his birthday with a belated birthday message. Her gift was birthday cards for the next five years, complete with Target giftcards and personal birthday messages.

Mom gave Ryan zoom-in binocular glasses for watching Packer games and a talking cigar (we didn't get the cigar either).

Patrick gave my dad a "white towel" that he can throw and it gives him an automatic 45-minute 'time away' from grandchildren or anyone else annoying him.

Remember when I crushed Hadley's bike with my car?  So did my dad.  He gave me a driving-safety manual (that's the real incident printed on the cover) and highlighted the part on avoiding objects. Along with my guide came Barbie, her red convertible and a squashed bike.

Ryan gave Heidi something she always wants/needs - sleep.  She can wear this contraption (a blanket and pillow strapped to her head) and sneak a nap anywhere.

Over the years, my mom has befriended the Cancun Royal Resorts lifeguard Mario, he will find/save special seashells for my mom.  I wrote an official-looking letter from the Royal Resorts staff stating that their beloved Mario was missing and he'd been last seen combing the beach for shells.  The staff was desparado for Senora Mercado's help in finding Mario, she needed to dig...

 ...phew, she found him.  That's Mario's face glued onto Beach Ken.

When we got home, we exchanged gifts between the four of us and the kids opened gifts from Patrick's family in Chicago.

Our annual family pictures, the traditional picture on the stairs.

And one with mustaches.

Grandma had one special request, she wanted a bathtub Santa picture.  This might be the first and last, the five littles might not fit in the tub together next year...

 ...but it was worth it.  The picture is adorable.  Merry Christmas!