The giving of presents came early and often for our family this year. Blake and I each ordered a gift for ourselves and of course when they came we just opened them instead of waiting for the big day. Blake wanted an air rifle and I got a Kindle Fire. When I think about how totally opposite those presents are, it makes me smile--we definitely have different interests!
The Sunday before Christmas we came home from church and I opened a soda to drink while I fixed the kids lunch. Blake came and started drinking out of the can and it made me so mad! I said, "Can't I have just one thing for myself? I give and give to the kids and I just want one thing for me!" Blake finished the soda and went out into the garage. He came back in carrying a huge pallet of soda. He was smiling and said, "Is this enough soda for you?" Then he brought in 3 other pallets of soda. I think that's enough to keep me happy for a while.
My mom, brother Jared, and brother Ben and sis in law Katie and their son Aiden came to see us on Christmas Eve. We had dinner with Blake's parents and their house. Blake had to work Christmas day and since our kids haven't mastered reading a calendar yet, we decided to postpone Christmas until the 26th.
We woke up on the 25th to a new batch of Christmas snow.
Brooke entertaining herself.
I got out some old toys for Aiden (9mos) to play with and Porter thought they were for him.
My brothers talking to our sister Nicole who called from Alaska.
Christmas night we decided to open the family presents my family brought for the kids and the sibling presents to each other.
The kids were happy and went to bed excited for Santa to come. The elves got to work preparing for Christmas day.
Santa nibbled on the cookies and even left Brooke's bell she lost earlier in the week.
The stockings were left on the stairs with care...
Christmas morning was exciting for everyone and Santa felt good about what was given to the kids.
The kids in their Christmas jammies and new slippers.
And we can't forget Mr. G enjoying his first Christmas!
It was a Frozen and Hello Kitty filled year for Brooke
And a trains, planes, and automobile filled year for Porter
Grant got a dinosaur stuffed animal that mommy made just for him.
The train set was a huge hit and is something fun that Brooke and Porter can play with together.
Getting 4 kids to look at the camera and be happy at the same time was near impossible, but here are the Smith cousins at Christmas!
A week later, the train love is still going strong!
