Christmas 2012

   We had an amazing Christmas this year.  We are beyond blessed and have such a wonderful family to spend it with.  It has always been our tradition to spend the night at my parent's house on Christmas Eve.  It is so fun to have everyone under one roof even if it's just for a night.  We always wake up when it's still dark to start opening presents.  Now that their are four small children in the family, Christmas is that much more fun!  We all got such enjoyment from watching the excitement on their faces as they opened their gifts.  Ashlyln was beyond excited to see what Santa brought her.  Ella and Dawson didn't quite grasp the Santa concept , although they could identify who he was.  We spent all of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day surrounded by family and enjoying one another's company.  We are so lucky to all be together. 

    My parent's big present to everyone this year is a trip to Disney World in February.  We are all beyond excited to go back.  Only Ashlyn has ever been before.  All the kids are going to have such a fun time.  I am having a blast planning it and looking forward to our trip! 

   Here are some of the pictures from Christmas. 

The countdown my mom had on her wall. 

Aslyn's Christmas list.  She left it for Eddie Buddy and he took it up to Santa one night.  The thing she wanted the most and couldn't stop talking about was the Littlest Pet Shop Hospital.  She told me she knew she was going to get it.  I asked her how she knew.  She said, "Because I have been really good all year". 

The kids fresh out of their baths on Christmas Eve morning. 

Ashlyn and I making my famous buttermilk rolls.  When Ashlyn learned that we weren't going any where, she promptly put on her pajamas and stayed in them the entire time. 

Ashlyn had to make everyone punch. 

Stirring the punch. 

Ashlyn and her Uncle Steven

Eddie Buddy and Katy's elf, Snowflake.  They were waiting for Santa to come so they could hitch a ride back to the North Pole with him. 

Eating Christmas Eve lunch

The snow rolling in

My parent's festive house





Sprinkling reindeer food safely on the ground.

Dawson liked sprinkling

Too cute

Dawson eating his Christmas Eve dinner. 

Reading "The Night Before Christmas".  The pajamas he is wearing are the same ones Ashlyn wore at that age.  Jameson will get to wear them next year. 

Ashlyn baked a special cookie for Santa. 

Next to the cookies and milk. 

Santa came!!!

All the loot Santa brought! 

The tree all lit up

Coming down stairs to see what Santa left. 

Aslyn opening

She was so excited to see her pet hospital. 

Dumping out her huge stocking of presents. 

Dawson did awesome unwrapping things. 

Checking things out

He loved opening presents. 

Dawson got lots of trucks and Thomas the Train stuff. 

Eating their special Christmas morning breakfast of donuts.  Only on Christmas to they get a breakfast like that. 

Princess Ella with the castle that Santa brought her. 

Dawson got a motorized ATV from Santa.  He loves it!

Dawson taking his best bud for a ride.  I think Ella liked it more than he did!

Opening more presents

Playing with Ella

My brother giving Ashlyn her present

My brother did a great job getting the kids presents.

He got Ella a recorder which she loved playing. 

Opening more presents

Dawson opening the train set from his Grandparents. 

Ashlyn finally got her Dreamlite. 

Dawson helped Jameson by opening his presents. 

So much to look at!

This is the hug Ashlyn gave Gram after discovering that Gram and Papa got her an iPad.  She was beyond thrilled. 

What a  mess of toys and paper!

Eating a snack.  Ashlyn was already trying out her new iPad. 

Snuggling her with Jameson.  He is seriously the sweetest boy in the world. 

Love him so much!

What a cutie!

We did get a white Christmas!  We all had hoped for more snow and wished it would have been falling Christmas morning, but we took what we could get. 

The kids table at Christmas dinner

Enjoying an amazing meal

Joey being goofy.  He is very proud of this picture.  It's with the new lens he got for Christmas. 

My grandma makes the best pies in the world.  They are seriously amazing.  Her cherry has always been my favorite and Ahslyn has inherited my love for cherry pie.  She literally talks about it all year.