Christmas with Friends

This morning, we had a small get together at our house so that the kids could exchange Christmas gifts. Katie had so much fun playing with her friends, and I am sure the other kids had a great time, too. This has been an ongoing tradition for a couple of years, but only this year did we think to take pictures of the kids on the couch. It will be neat to see how the kids change over time!

Leslie and Nathan

Caleb, 13 months

Isabella, 5, and Evelyn, 5

Katie, 2, opening her gift from Evey and Lily

Caleb and Tiffanie

Lily, 11 months

Caleb and Tiffanie opening the books from Katie and Nathan

Isabella and Evey opening their American Girl Picnic Sets from Katie and Nathan

Lily investigating

Evey and Isa in their pretty wings

Katie (2), Isabella (5), Nathan (1month), Evelyn (5), Lily (11months) and Caleb (13 months)

Noemi, Me, Tiffanie and Leslie (we are all 28, except for Leslie, lol)

Merry Christmas!

TJ and Lindsay brought Danica over a couple weeks ago, on the 18th, so that we could exchange gifts with them. I can't believe that it is already Danica's first Christmas! She has grown so much.

Katie

Awesome new backpack

Danica and Lindsay

Cutie Pie!

And for our final Christmas celebration of the year, we opened presents with Grandma and Grandpa this afternoon after the kids were done opening their gifts. They drove into town last night, and will be staying with us until after Katie's birthday party!

PJ's and Book from Gam Gam and Great Grandpa

Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer

Yorkie Calendar for Papa

Kindle Fire from Mom and Papa... when she opened it, she said,
"I thought you were getting Grandpa one?!?" He got one, too.

Grandpa and his Kindle Fire from mom and papa

Jon, Me and Nathan

Nathan's new outfit from Gam Gam and Great Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa's birthdays recently passed on the 27th and 23rd respectively, so we took them to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner and dessert.

Merry Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year! After Kaitlyn went to bed, Santa made his stop by our house and oh my goodness was our living room overflowing with presents! Someone must have been extra good this year! **This post will be very picture heavy; there were so many pictures I wanted to share!**

We got started opening presents as soon as Katie woke up and Jonathan came over. Katie had so much fun ripping the wrapping paper off the presents and seeing her new toys. She wanted to play with them, of course, as soon as they were open, which made it a bit difficult to get through present opening in a timely manner. It took her a couple of hours to open everything and she immediately needed a nap when she was done.

Katie in her "The Night Before Christmas" PJ's

Katie's new bean bag from Grandma and Grandpa

Nathan helping Katie open her present

Katie's first tricycle from Grandma and Grandpa!

She was really good at ripping off the wrapping paper!

Mom and Papa got Katie Tupperware dishes; this was my favorite gift she received, a tupperware cake server. I think I screamed louder than Katie did when she opened her dishes! I had this when I was younger and made cakes for my Grandpa on my Easy Bake oven. I was so excited to see this toy again! :o)

Sesame Street Playset with figurines from Grandma and Grandpa

Mom and Baby Duck toy from Uncle Jon

Play food from Paul and I

 Mom started making lunch for us and the rest of us opened up our gifts while Nathan and Katie napped. We had a delicious lunch and Paul's mom and step dad stopped by right after lunch to bring the kids their gifts. Paul's dad stopped by earlier that morning after he left Michelle's and on his way to Melissa's house to deliver presents.

Jon received new law books from Mom and Papa

Paul received a new drill from Mom and Papa

Washington and Lee gym shorts!

Santa brought Paul an iPhone 4s

Uncle Jon gave Nathan a stuffed elephant

Papa gave mom a beautiful diamond necklace

We gave Jon a flask with "R" engraved on the front

Santa brought me an iPhone 4s, too!!

Beautiful throw for mom from Tara and Kevin

Mom got Papa a drill set, too

Cool camo cover for his iPhone from mom and papa

This was Paul's favorite gift Nathan received. Paul had a shape sorter like this when he was a kid.

Monkey Animal and Blanket from Uncle Jon for Nathan

We had a lazy and fun day playing with our new toys and setting up the kids gifts. We stayed in our PJ's almost all day, and I never did get the kids dressed in their Christmas outfits that mom got them. The day just flew by too quickly!! I wonder if this is an indication of how Christmas will be next year, too??? I felt like I was in slow motion all day! LOL!

Katie and Nathan taking a wagon ride in Nathan's wagon from Grandma and Grandpa

Katie's Christmas Gifts (minus her art easle and a few outfits)

Nathan's Christmas Gifts (minus a few outfits)

Doodle Bug's Self Portrait

What a wonderful and special day it was, though. Our family is so very blessed to have such wonderful parents, grandparents, siblings and friends.