Christmas is Here!

This year, we hosted Christmas Eve and Day for my family. We were busy with cookie decorating, cooking, present opening, and, most importantly - eating! Above is Olivia before her play based on How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Below is Ethan's piano performance (no, he doesn't take lessons yet) of Christmas songs.

We had Christmas crackers during our Christmas Eve dinner, and here are the kids showing off their paper crowns and "prizes". Such strange prizes this year - mini staplers and tape dispensers, random jewels, magic tricks, and glasses rope (which is what Ethan has).

Joe later decided that the glasses string was not a look for him!

Rogue managed to get her head stuck in a plastic bag. We managed to take several pictures prior to helping her get out of it.

Ethan and Olivia with their letters and cookies for Santa/9 carrots for all of the reindeer. We had to leave the fireplace off to not burn Santa!

Santa came!

Olivia and Ethan with their Santa presents - Monster High dolls for Olivia (her big obsession right now) and Trash Packs and Hot Wheels for Ethan.

And, more present opening. These are the gifts from family! Spoiled is an understatement!

Olivia in the middle of her present opening mess. Her big gift was a Nintendo 3DS with games.

Ethan still opening gifts. His big item this year was a LeapPad with games.

The kids LOVED their electronics - I barely saw their faces the entire Christmas break! We allowed them to have free access to these devices during break, but starting today they are on 30 minutes per day time limits.

Ethan gave Joe and grandpa special "World's Best Dad/Grandpa" hats. He was very proud of the gifts he selected for family this year.

Merry Christmas!

And two days after Christmas, we celebrated with Grammy and Grandpa Brett.

Of course Ethan gave Grandpa Brett a "World's Best Grandpa" hat, too!

This picture of the cousins (Ethan, Lula, and Olivia) was NOT easy to get. Cute little Lula is definitely happy to be moving!

Olivia really likes to put together Legos, and here she is starting on her Lego house. We are so happy that Lego now is focusing on "girlie" Legos - Olivia really likes them, but had no interest in the Star Wars, Ninjago, or any other line like that. We have had a difficult time finding ones she was intersted in - City and Creator namely. I hate how sexist that sounds, but it is true.

Proud of the finished product!