ChRiStMaS 2o1o...MEGA post!!

Christmas this year flew by as fast as it came. It was a total whirlwind and a different year for us. We had a very busy last couple weeks of the year, I think my kids went to bed no earlier than 10pm almost every night. Totally nuts!! But each day was filled with so many friends and family, some we hadn't seen in a long time, lots of love and laughter, and a sweet feeling of humility in what life- and Christmas- is all about. So bring on the cranky kids and the exhausted parents- it was all totally worth it!

Christmas Eve at the Dodds':

Delicious dinner, all my mom's family together for the first time in years, presents for the kids, sibling exchange of presents, and a major Hazel meltdown (explained below). There's always gotta be one kid who does it at Christmas.:) We still had a great time!

(the only picture I could get of them in their Christmas outfits)

(the above moment put Hazel into absolute hysterics...she was sobbing and saying, "Miles is a boy and he got a baby, it's just not right!!" It was sooo funny!

Christmas Eve at the Henderson's:
Delicious dinner #2 (including my favorite tomato-basil soup of Vicki's- yum!!), the chaos of 10 grandkids all opening presents at once, a call from Santa during dinner, new jammies for all the grandkids, sibling presents and LOTS of fun with cousins! We love Chrismtas Eve at the Henderson's!

(Drew ran off as fast as his little legs could go with Hazel's new gumball machine and ate the entire bag of gumballs...when we got home, he was on a crazy sugar high like I've never seen!)

(all the grandkids in their new jammies)

(these 2 boys were having so much fun copying everything the other was doing)

Our little family's Christmas Morning:

To Hazel's absolute joy, Santa Claus finally came (she had been running out to check every morning for the last week)!! Drew didn't quite understand, but he was thrilled to sit on his new rocking horse and eat all the candy from his stocking. And even though Hazel got a new kitchen with all kinds of cooking accessories, all she cared about was finding which present was the little pink bunny she'd asked for (that story later). It was such a nice, relaxed morning and we had so much fun just hanging out and watching our kids play with all their new toys!

(is Drew up yet???)

Christmas Day at the Romney's:
This year my kids wanted to spend the whole time out in Grandma & Grandpa Romney's backyard. They loved exploring, throwing rocks in the stream and being outside!

(this is Drew's new cute hat Grandma Vicki gave him for Christmas and he wore it for literally a week straight- he wouldn't let us take it off! He loves it! And so do I...isn't it darling?!)

(he spotted a squirrel running across the telephone wires...he was stunned!)

Christmas Night at the Koplin's:

It felt so nice at the end of a couple of really busy days to just go and chill for the night at Rick & Char's house. We had even more yummy food, opened presents, got to snuggle the 2 newest babies in the fam and just hung out and talked. The kids always LOVE playing with Grandma and Grandpa Kops, so between that and even more Christmas, they were so happy to be alive!

(Lucy and Ryane)

(Hazel is in love with baby Ryane- she wants to hold her constantly...and Ryane is equally in awe of Miss. H)

(Grandpa, aka the human playground)

(hazel had to immediately show off the new dress-ups she got)

(drew was instantly obsessed with his new handy manny toolset)

***

It was a great one!! We love Christmas!