Our Christmas Festivities

The long Christmas "weekend" began on Dec. 24th with a wonderful Christmas Eve service at church followed by a special time with friends. Our good friends Kim and Bobby had several families to their house for a time of fellowship and Christmas cookie decorating.

Oops! We forgot to tell Philip that the cookies were for Santa and not for him. Yum!

Christmas morning came and we had told Philip to come to our room before going to the living room. Matthew read us the Christmas story from the Bible and then it was time to see what Santa had brought and open presents from Mommy and Daddy. Braewyn went diving for her stocking first.

Our little chocoholic ate FOUR chocolate bells before even opening one present...

but I suppose it gave her lots of energy to do so!

Philip was very excited to spot a new Batman plane and Buzz Lightyear toy. Just what he had asked Santa for while on top of that firetruck!!

After seeing the unwrapped gifts from Santa, Philip and Braewyn began distributing the gifts from us out from under the tree.

Who is that Caped Crusader? Philip has so much enjoyed his Spiderman and Buzz Lightyear suits, we thought he'd have fun being more of his favorite super heroes. Batman and...




Iron Man!

Braewyn did receive a new baby and stroller from Santa. Here she is giving her baby a Christmas kiss!

Iron Man and the little mommy exchange words in the hallway.

Matthew was surprised to receive a new router from the kids. It should help continue his new found hobby of woodworking (he made his mom a table for Christmas).

Braewyn had fun playing with her new Mrs. Potato Head. Mommy had a hard time figuring out how to store all the parts in the box!

Ruth Ann, "Grandma", came over after lunch and tried her hand at stockcar racing with Philip on his new Disney Cars Wii game.

Christmas dinner was at our house this year. The table was full but the atmosphere was loving. There were the four of us, Ruth Ann, my parents, Aunt Liz, Aunt Elise, Uncle Arden, and Grandma Mary.

Braewyn, Matthew, Ruth Ann and I sat in the "peanut gallery" section as I called it. Hey, we were all in the same room this way.

Braewyn snuggled up to Aunt Elise and Uncle Arden in the new bathrobe they gave her.

My Mom, the sentimental one, has kept my childhood baby highchair all these years and presented it to Braewyn this Christmas.

She gave it a fresh paintjob and added the cute bird. Braewyn has fed her new baby and learning puppy in it this week.

Saturday was a yard work day for us. Philip helped move some leaves in his new heavy duty, Tonka truck from Great Grandma and Grandpa Diemer (Mom's parents).

On Sunday, we traveled to Matthew's great aunt and uncle's house (45 minutes away) for a large family Christmas gathering and baby shower for his second cousin. I love going there as it's the house Grandma Mary and her siblings grew up in. Her sister Amy and brother-in-law Melvin own it today and we always feel extremely at home there. This photo is during one of the baby shower games.

Here are the expectant parents, Melinda and Brian, opening presents and receiving some unrequested help from an experienced gift-opener, Braewyn.

One of the best things about visiting Amy and Melvin is that they own 34 cows!! It had just rained and so the cows were wet and curly standing around in thick mud. How cute!! We had a wonderful Christmas week and I feel so blessed to have spent it with our dear family and friends.