Christmas

Christmas morning finally arrived! The kids were very excited to get downstairs and see if Santa came. 

He sure did!

They got right into opening stockings while the adults got coffee and breakfast going. 

A little nerf gun and little Army men kept them busy for a bit. 

Then it was time to start opening presents!

We were trying very hard to take turns opening presents, but it was a challenge with a three year old.

Riser wore his new "dinosaur" (dragon) cape and boots the rest of the morning. 

After breakfast we headed over to Katie's house for our family gift exchange. It was a big group and so fun to have everyone together!

Riser was simultaneously living his best life, and also pretty overstimulated by this point. I had to take him out of the room half the time so he wouldn't open everyone else's gifts.

The whole group!

Then it was time for Christmas Bingo - a new favorite. 

It was time well spent exchanging gifts, playing games, and everyone eating lots of food! 

By the afternoon we had to get back home because Betty had a turkey in the oven. We got straight to work prepping Christmas dinner. We were all so wiped out by the end of the day I didn't even get any more pictures. 

It was a wonderful Christmas and I'm so glad we got to spend it with so much family.

Christmas Eve

Benny's parents stayed with us this year for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we went for a walk in CW and got to meet up with mom, Eric, Katie and her family. It turned out to be a really nice morning! We also got to go see the biggest gingerbread house I've ever seen, made from real gingerbread.

Later when we got home we decorated Christmas cookies.

The kids also helped Baga make a pecan pie for Christmas.

That evening the kids each got to open a present to get things started.

Then they spread some reindeer food that Bonnie made in school around the front lawn so the reindeer would make sure to stop at our house. 

We ended out the night with Benny reading the Night Before Christmas, and putting out cookies for Santa.