Christmas bells WERE ringing!!

Oh it was so much fun this HOLIDAY Season. Spending lots of time with family and watching your kids go CRAZY with excitement.....what more could you ask for?! Christmas Eve we went over to my Grandma Schulkins ate some yummy food, read the story of Christ's birth, and did our musical chimes ( which I have very fond memories of doing growing up). The only ones that made it this year were us, my mom, and my brother Jared with his wife Rachel and daughter Morgan. All the other LOSERS....I mean family members were out of town (hehe).

It was fun to see our kids enjoy one of my favorite traditions. We have sheet music for all the Christmas songs that tells you when to hit the chimes. It doesn't always sound too pretty when there are little ones/Kevin playing out of turn, but it is soo much fun!!

After Grandmas house we went back home and did our traditional opening of the pajamas. Every year we get to open one present Christmas Eve....and that present is always pajamas. We also watched as my mom and Jared and Rach exchange their gifts because they were going to be with Rach's family for Christmas day.

No I am NOT too old to still get pajamas on Christmas Eve....my mom still spoils my inner child!!

The kids were so excited for Christmas Day that when I told them the sooner they went to bed the sooner Santa would come they ran straight to bed.......not one argument! I don't think I have seen them so willingly fall asleep so fast!

CHRISTMAS DAY!

Madeleine was the first to wake up......and could not contain her excitement! She of course woke us up immediately and then wanted to get Logan out of bed (which we let her do). Once Logan was up we headed straight for the presents......


I Love Claire's confused expression in this pic.....but I have to be honest it is an expression she uses frequently. She is an observer and always seems a little nervous about what is going on around her.

These were the before shots of each of the kids with their pile of gifts. Once again Claire really isn't sure what to think of the situation.

As you can see in the pure joy of this smile she quickly warmed up to the idea of Christmas!

Logan did not get his trash can, but was pleased with his plethora of much more exciting gifts.

And YES Madeleine got her doll!

As well as lipstick......this girls loves makeup. Such A girly girl!!

I love Madeleine's barely off the ground jump.....and yes it was over the fact that she and Logan got some more mega blocks.

After cleaning up the wrapping paper mess and playing with toys we moved the party over to the Ryan's house. We had yummy french toast and opened some more presents........Madie got lots of princess things from Uncle Chris and Sonya....she was in heaven.

Logan got so excited to see that he got the tool set he REALLY wanted!! This is what he decided he wanted instead of a trash can.

Claire had the hang of opening and getting excited over her presents by the time we got to the Ryan's....she was a pro!!

Me modeling my lovely festive socks....and my white legs. Aren't they awesome, the socks not the white legs!!

The AWSOMENESS that is our new camera....only spec that matters....weighs less than 12 pounds!!!!!!!!!!

The Cuteness that is Madie in her Tinker Bell costume from Grandma and Grandpa Ryan.......she lovingly showing her new baby doll the proper way to be a fairy.

Tons of presents ripped open, lots of yummy food and candy eaten, loads of laughs with family= Very happy, but very tired family!!

Hope you all had a WONDERFUL Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!