Christmas

Colby and I [mostly I] had mixed emotions this year. Last year, and every year, we complain(ed) about how we have so many places to be...This year, we didn't have so many places and it was nice. But it was hard. My parents are gone, so my whole family was pretty much eliminated from the day. That gave us a lot of extra time to spend other places, and playing with toys. Which was a good thing...and a sad thing. As we were driving home from the Danjanovich's (my parents live between us and them), after opening presents and spending a few hours over there, Colby said to me You know, it was nice getting to do our own thing, taking all the time we wanted for whatever...but it's hard not going over there. Not seeing them today.' I watched their subdivision as we drove by and started crying. We both did. It was hard not having them here to watch my kids open presents, to have prime rib dinner on Christmas Eve, and to have a super yummy Christmas breakfast. We missed them!

Ok...sorry for the sob story. On to the fun stuff!!
I didn't take one picture on Christmas eve, but we went to Pizza Factory with the Danjanovich's. That's all. Just us, Kent & Sherie, and Melanie's family. Usually there's a ton of people. They did the whole thing different this year, and I didn't really love it. But...it's tradition. And I love going there, just didn't love it this year. After, I took the kids and we went to the house with everyone. Colby had to go back to work [wink wink] so we hung out, made cupcakes for Santa. Something different this year. Christmas cupcakes with halloween wrappers. Pretty sweet. I thought it would be something fun for us to do, but didn't think about the wrappers. Oh well, they worked. Then we watched Ironman and came home.
We opened our Christmas Eve presents...pajamas! Which by the way...this year Christmas pajamas were scarce. Whatever happened to just cute red, white, and green? Lexie refused to wear Christmas jammies, she had to wear princess ones. And because of that fit, I never even thought to take a picture. She slept during the movie, so she was sweet and stayed up until 11:30. We wanted to start getting things ready, but I knew she would want to play with everything and wake the boys up. So we waited. Lucky for us, Colby had to *work late* so there was no assembling to be done.

They were all pretty excited when they came out to see what was left. I have to say...I love the stage that Cutler is at. He really is easy to please. He didn't really ask for anything, besides a trampoline. So he got whatever Santa wanted to leave him. And he was thrilled! The whole morning opening presents he wore the hat. It kinda looks like a russian whatever in this picture, but it's really a coonskin hat.

So after the kids opened everything and we were just about to get in the car to go to grandma's house, I said to them... So what do you guys think? It was pretty good this year right? We all got what we wanted? -waiting to hear something about the trampoline. They didn't even think to go look out the back door. Until I started asking them what they asked for and if anything was missing.

Lexie wanted to jump too, but it was so cold, so she went back inside. Fun times.

We headed over to Danjanovich's to open a ton more and eat a super yummy breakfast.

After a couple of hours of letting the boys play and Lexie have a nap it was time for the Labrum party.

Every year people kind of make fun of our traditions with them, and they are different, but they're English traditions that Janet grew up with and has kept in her family. And they're corky, but fun.

First we eat an English dinner...roast, peas, carrots, potatoes, yorkshire pudding, and Trifle. Then we all pop our bonbons, find our prize, put on our hats, and take turns telling the jokes.

This year we kind of did a little talent show. I'm not a huge fan of those, but they like to perform, so...they did. Our kids sang 'Up on the Housetop' and did the actions. I'll have to try and put the video on here. And Colby did Chopsticks with his mom. Notice Lexie watching. She was totally intrigued.

Then on to the Nativity

Lexie was Mary, Cutler was Joseph, and Noah was a wiseman. I just noticed that Cutler was the one riding the donkey, not Mary. Funny. (ok, notice Lexie playing with her fingers? She does this whenever she's nervous, shy, embarrassed...it's funny. And she will not look at anyone.)

We ended the night with presents and more food. What a Christmas.

Merry Christmas!