Thank You!

As you can see from all the pictures and the posts we had a wonderful Christmas season - it was full of presents, visiting, caroling, food, fun, fellowship, parties, Jesus, family, eating, shopping, sleeping, playing, lights, etc... and we would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who made this possible. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Lester, Westbrook, Bennett Christmas

After a quick nap we headed over to Grammy and Pa's house to celebrate Christmas with them. We had a great time. We once again got to open presents and the kids were SOOOOO exited. Also once again here they got way, way, way to many presents. Blakely got a blanket, a keyboard, a game, craft stuff, dollhouse furniture, a strawberry shortcake, etc... Drew got Lego's, a magnetic Melissa & Doug game, a transformer, a game, Lincoln logs, blanket, etc... Again - I can't really remember everything off the top of my head! Phillip and I also open presents which were very nice - we got clothes, socks, scarf, money, a bracelet, a picture hanger thing, etc... As you can see we had a wonderful Christmas and were so blessed with all that we received. After opening all the presents and getting things somewhat cleaned up we ate a wonderful meal. After the meal we visited and the kiddos played. It was a great evening. The kids wore themselves out!

Lester, Albert, Smith Christmas

We had a GREAT Christmas! The Twins woke up at about 8am and they were told they had to come straight to Mommy and Daddy's room before we headed out to see if Santa came. They followed directions and did just that. They came in SO excited they could hardly control themselves. We waited just a few minutes until Grandma and Papa got there and then we let them head in to see. They were thrilled. The first thing they did was to go see if the Elf had left them something. Crazy kids - I would go for the presents but they knew Mr. Elfie would be gone today and he has been bringing them something everyday and they wanted to see if he left something before he went and guess what he did - he left them each and Ipod Touch! (Side note: I thought this would be the last thing they would go for so I wanted them to open everything else and then see the Ipods - oh well!) After the excitement of the Ipods they came back to the living room and started opening presents. They got way, way, way to many presents (THANKS Grandma and Papa!)!!! Blakely got a baby bed painted to match her room complete with bedding to match and all. She even got a baby doll that has glasses just like her. She also got clothes, a marshmallow gun, a light bright, a cash register (thanks Aunt Quinn & Uncle Jim), play money, doll house furniture, a game, hairbows, crocs, etc... Drew got a race car track, a Nerf Bow-n-Arrow, clothes, crocs, a game, Lego's, a marshmallow gun, etc... Really so much stuff I can't remember! Phillip and I also had a WONDERFUL Christmas - Thanks Mom and Dad! We got money, clothes, gift cards, etc... It was a great day. After all the presents were opened Papa cooked us up one of his wonderful breakfast complete with eggs, ham, toasts, hash browns, and juice. After breakfast Quinn, Jim and Maya came over. The Twins couldn't wait for Miss Maya to get here. They wanted to help her open her presents and they also knew Quinn and Jim had presents for them. Maya wasn't in the best of mood - she was ready for a N-A-P! She had been up earlier to see her Santa stuff and had been to church so she was ready for bed and food! She did open her presents and she was quite happy about those. Overall it was a great day. Now it's nap time for the Lester's before we head over to Grammy and Pa's!

Christmas Views Around the House

Here are a few views from around our house of some of the Christmas decorations. Of course I go a little crazy Phillip says and put up a little too much but hey the kids are only young once and they LOVE it. They love it to be all decorated so I do it - it does take quite a bit of work but it is fun and they are getting to the age where they can help now so that makes it a little easier. It is the take down part that I dislike. I put little trees in the kitchen that are decorate with kitchen utensils, pans, etc..., I put a little tree up in Drew's room that is decorate with tools (the theme of his room), I put a little tree up in Blakely's room that is decorate with bulbs the colors of her room, I put a tree up in the master bedroom with burlap (this is the first year for that), I put a little tree in the master bathroom, I put a BIG tree in the living room, I put a BIG tree in the playroom in the basement and of course I put other decorations out all over the house. It's fun! Also as you can see Santa made his way to our house! Can't wait for the kiddos to wake up and see....

Reindeer Food

Of course before we headed to bed on Christmas Eve we had to feed the reindeer. Earlier in the day we made reindeer food with a little oatmeal, glitter and a few leftover sprinkles. The kids thought this was so much fun and of course Drew - the deer man - couldn't wait to put out his deer food. We sprinkled it on the lawn so that the reindeer could eat while Santa worked away putting the presents out inside. I sure hope they enjoy it! We will see...

Christmas Eve at the Lester's

We spent Christmas Eve over at the Lester's! We had a great evening. We ate lots of yummy food, had great conversation, and just enjoyed being with each other. The kids played and played and were so excited about the big day coming that they could hardly contain themselves. They played in the basement which gave the adults time for some adult conversation which was nice (sorry Grammy - I know that basement is a mess)! Once they got tired of playing in the basement they decorated cookies for Santa. They all loved doing this and they turned out pretty cute. Of course on Christmas Eve they get to open one present and they couldn't wait - they asked and asked and asked when they could open it and towards the end of the night we finally let them and guess what it was PJ's! They all immediately wanted to put them on and they looked so cute. This year they also got a book and stuffed animal. These were a BIG hit. The kiddos loved them and couldn't wait to get home to sleep with there new stuffed animal and to read their books before bed. Thanks Grammy & Pa we had a great evening. Merry Christmas!!!