Christmas Time (Asher's first!)

As always, a picture heavy post.  It'll be a story told mostly by pictures.  But, I'll give a little preface to the picture story:  This year was a really special Christmas for LOTS of reasons.  It was Asher's first Christmas, it was the first Christmas in our new home, and Jenny and Jeremy (Chris's sister and brother in law who live in Scotland) were in the states for Christmas.  Also we did Christmas with my family WAY early because Ira and Kelley were expecting baby Cora and couldn't travel.  So, it was wonderful, but a little different than most Christmases we plan.

This was at a small group Christmas party.  The kids did a little exchange and it was so cute!

right before we opened presents with my family

just a cute little Christmas treat!

"guys" spent the night with us the night before Christmas at Ira and Kelley's.  it was lots of fun!  You can see Griffin has been running around with them and is alread sweaty.

Asher's first time with the "under the blanket" tradition

our family of four opening presents

hooray!  Griffin and Asher with Santa

Griffin and his list for Santa that he carried around for weeks

making cookies for Santa

at the Christmas Eve service at church.  it was pretty fun.  all the kiddos wear their pajamas and there is a wide variety of worship.  griffin, i guess, planned on being a spectator, too, because he brought popcorn. :)

getting milk ready for Santa

setting out the cookies...

Look what Santa left!!

as is tradition in our family, you gave to get under a blanket and get dizzy before you open presents!

Chris may never forgive me for posting this picture, but it's the best on of sweet AsherBear

this picutre is super special.  It's Griffin and his Rocky train - the thing he really, really, really wanted from Santa...

the mess...

after we opened presents Christmas morning, Chris's family came in for lunch and more presents!  (shirtless Christmas, much?)

Griffin "helping" Nana with a gingebread house.  She had much more of a sense of style for it than Griffin did, but he did think it tasted good!

Aunt Jenny and Asher

What a fun December we had!  Asher, we are so glad you've joined us - and Griffin, we can't imaging our lives without you!  You get more and more fun everyday.