Christmas Happenings

Thursday we were invited to join some friends and go Christmas caroling. After my birthday dinner with Bob at Tepanyaki (yummy!) we met up with the group. What better way to spend your birthday evening than with good friends and a trailer load of teenagers. There's a group shot of all the kids and then odds and ends that I managed to get on a dark trailer in the fog. I tried for a video of everyone singing, it just didn't work out that great but I was able to save the audio for your enjoyment!

I do need to mention that all husbands stayed in the cab of the truck at all times. I really question their Christmas spirit!


Our Christmas day started out a little late for my standards, 10:45 a.m. to be exact, when we finally made Chase get out of bed and Ian rolled in. I guess at their age that is to be expected, especially when they had already received their Christmas and they weren't expecting anything to open. No matter how hard I try to stick by "they already got their Christmas" there has to be at least one present to open. Then we were off to see Bob's mom and then onto my parents where we would have lunch and open cousin presents. Tradition is that we start youngest to oldest, so here we go.

A pretty dress for Payton from Grandma & Grandpa.

Seth seems to be happy with his Megaplex gift card.

Nathan is happy to finally have his own basketball. Now his big brothers can't tell him no when he wants to go outside and shoot hoops.

Madalyn is excited for her pretty scarfs.

Taylor & Tyson got new earbuds.

Ian and Chase get a multi-USB adapter and Best Buy gift cards.

Shannon and Nic get a cozy blanket. Young couples need just about anything.

New earrings for Megan.

Ashley was gifted a class to jessicasprague.com. Maybe another Photoshop guru in the works.

A new shirt for Cameron.

Grandpa didn't follow the rules and snuck into the kitchen to unwrap his present before it was his turn, busted! He'll be busy converting his slides to a digital format.

That's the look of confusion from my mom and my dad laughing as they try to figure out what HDMI cables are for. They were still confused as that big box was sat in front of them.

Now the look of surprise as they realize what's in the box.

And the best Christmas present ever is knowing that my siblings and I pulled off the perfect gift for my parents. Dad had a huge smile on his face and Mom was overwhelmed with emotion while telling us she couldn't accept that kind of present from us, it was just too much for us kids to give them. Well enjoy Mom & Dad, you now have a new HD TV. It's great when grown children can do for their parents once in a while.

My Christmas Day was wonderful being surrounded by family. I hope your day was memorable too.