Christmas Day 2013

Christmas Day was awesome!  The kids were up right at 7am (when we told them they could be).  We tried hard to stay in bed and prolong the agony of waiting, but the kids eventually got us out of bed.  We spent the morning opening presents.  Santa was good to us again as he is every year.  Although it was a little simpler because Nate and I decided not to get each other gifts since we purchased a new treadmill in November.  It just seemed less chaotic to just be able to sit and watch our kids be excited and happy about all their gifts.  Santa did not listen to me and gave us the Wii U.  The kids were ecstatic.  I have a few pictures of what our day was spent doing.  However, I don't have a picture of me napping on the couch for an hour. :)  Nate made a delicious prime rib dinner.  The kids and Nate spent a lot of the day playing the new games on the Wii U.  Ashlyn was content playing with all her gifts. The days after Christmas were spent building Legos and other sets and enjoying all the new stuff.  

And if you have been keeping track of our Christmases over the years you would know that we are slowly being buried by Legos.  We may have to buy a bigger house just to fit all the Lego sets we have.  We should have stock in the company for how much money we have given the Lego company. :)

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve was very calm and pleasant this year.  We spent the whole day as a family playing and having fun together.  We spent the morning playing in the snow.  We built a snow fort (which we failed to take any pictures of) and then had a snowball fight.  We also worked on a couple puzzles and made gingerbread houses.  The day actually went by pretty quickly.  Before we new it it was time to drive around and look at Christmas lights and come home to find our Christmas pjs from the Christmas Elf.  It was a great day and we didn't even stay up too late!! :)

Getting ready for the Christmas jammies picture. 

Can you tell they were a little excited about Christmas?!

December 2013...A busy month

It is hard to believe we are already into January.  Where did December go?  Oh, that's right, it was a CRAZY month!!  Some how December always flies by! :)  Instead of posting each Christmas activity separate I am doing a huge picture-o-rama of our December.  Even though it was busy we didn't have much planned on the weekends which was awesome!!  We got to spend time as a family watching Christmas movies and doing puzzles.  So here is December (at least up to Christmas Eve, that post is next).

The annual real Christmas tree decorating.  We got a big beautiful tree again this year.  This was our last Christmas decorating that needed to be done.  As soon as Liam's baptism was over on the 30th the kids pulled all the other decor out.  Usually we have our tree before December, but this year it was later because of the late Thanksgiving.  

 I love Liam.

Ashlyn and I made a quick trip to Staion Park for some shopping.  They had it decorated so cute and even have a mini ice skating rink for the holidays. 

Christmas Piano recital and Liam's first piano recital.  They both did awesome!!

Annual Hess Christmas Party with food, Navtivity, and games.  The kids couldn't wait for the party which was on the 23rd.  It was a long month of, "when is Grandma's Christmas party?"  :)

 My son the singer.

 Ashlyn as Mary with her cousin Thomas as Joseph.

It was a great month of family time and Christmas traditions!!