Christmas 2009

Christmas was a blast this year!  It was chaotic, since Sarah Kate and I got home from Utah late on the 22nd and the festivities began at our house on the 24th, but it was lots of fun.  My brother Jamie and his girlfriend Eva came in from Michigan, and we had a great time getting to know her.  We celebrated with my family on the 24th.  We had a huge meal and opened lots of presents, then headed to church.  Here's some photos from Christmas, Part I:

The table set with silverware stockings made by me and decorated by the boys:

Sarah Kate and Grandpa:

Eating photos . . . always a little awkward:

Look at all these PRESENTS!

Ready for church, Christmas Eve:

Christmas pajamas:

Santa and his friends had a little fun after the kids went to bed:

On Christmas morning, the kids woke up to find stockings and presents under the tree, and best of all--a white Christmas!  Such a rare thing here, and it was a great one.  The boys got plasma cars, which they had never heard of before, but it didn't take them long to start racing around the house!  The kids opened their gifts from us and then went out to play in the snow.  Right before lunchtime, we decided to try to make it to Noel's parents' house to celebrate with all of his family.  We had a very traumatic time getting up the mountain where they live, but thanks to the kindness of a neighbor, we all made it safe and sound--eventually.  Once we were there we enjoyed food and gifts with Nana, Granddad, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Laura, Uncle Garland and our cousin Caroline.  Here's photos from Christmas, Part II:

The boys and their plasma cars:

Playing in the snow:

The spot where we got stuck on the ice for 45 minutes:  

Sarah Kate and Aunt Laura:

Caroline saying "cheese!":

Caroline loves Sarah Kate:

Opening gifts:

And finally, this video doesn't quite capture it, but "Angels We Have Heard On High" was a favorite carol around here this year.  The boys both love it, and at church on Christmas Eve, Christopher sang the  "gloria" part so loudly that I laughed until I cried.  When it was over, he turned to me and said, "Mom, I really busted out that refrain!"  Well, Sarah Kate seems to have joined in her brother's love for this Christmas carol.  We couldn't get her to do it much on the video, but usually when you sing the gloria, she opens her mouth wide and sings "aaahhhhh!"  It is too cute!



(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMOIODbSPI4 if it won't play.)