As far as our parties and presents are concerned, our kids may think Christmas is a month, not just a single day. The fun started with having Abbie, the wonderful person that watches our kids while I am at school, and her husband Ben over for our annual dinner and Christmas celebration.
Caleb got a tool set with the protection goggles--never can be too safe!
Check out the gingerbread house that the kids made with Abbie. Maybe I should say that Abbie made with the kids since it looks a little too neat and wonderful to believe that these two did most of it.
We then had our neighbor friends over for a night just to hang out. Here's the neighborhood gang watching a Diego.
Christmas Eve morning the kids did their presents from us at home. This started with stockings that are about as big as they are. We did a bit better at making them look a bit more full this year with books, socks, and other things they weren't very excited about.
Check out Josie's strange reaction to the dollhouse we got her. I'm not sure she really understood what it was before it was assembled, and Caleb was thrilled to help out with this picture.
Kyle spent a good deal of time (and band-aids) assembling the new stuff. The dollhouse came in what seemed like a couple hundred pieces--I guess the online reviews complaining about the assembly being difficult were accurate.
Good thing Caleb and his know-how were there to help Kyle with the work.
Christmas Eve we partied at Kyle's parents' house. Here are the 8 cousins on that side --all pretty happy for the group picture.
Christmas Day was spent at Rachel's parents' house.
the boys table (Dawson, Caleb, Nathan and Daniel--Peter was still at the grown-up table)
The 8 cousins on this side with little Dylan in Dawson's lap.
Some of the chaos from above (missing is Mom, Dylan, Caleb and myself)
