Christmas

We had a rather laid back Christmas this year. I was blessed with having everything finished several weeks before and so was able to spend more time doing the fun stuff of the season.

We enjoyed each day of the Advent calendar, although we had to shuffle some things around since weather wasn't very accommodating for the two parades on the schedule.

We had our little decorating party and once again the weather wasn't cooperating. It was pouring and a bad thunderstorm went through right before everyone was supposed to come. But thankfully two brave moms ventured out so we still had some kids here to help us decorate our Christmas trees.

 

 

Our first Christmas was at Grammy and Gramps on Christmas Eve. 

 

 

One of the funnest things about presents is taking these two kids shopping. We'll give them a budget and who they are shopping for and let them go. Sometimes they are spot on with something the person would enjoy. But sometime they are so off the wall that it cracks us up. 

Gramps received one of those gifts. Dominic and Caitlin laughed for the entire week before Gramps unwrapped his gift. It was worth every penny just to see them so cracked up about it. =)

Our second celebration was Christmas morning at our house. We opened presents 

 

 

 I wasn't sure how to wrap this gift. So I just wrote this note and put it on top of some books we'd given him. It worked!

and then had our traditional cinnamon rolls. We still had green icing from the decoration party.

Our third celebration was the next day at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

 

We had a wonderful Christmas vacation and really enjoyed the relaxing time spent with family.

Birthday Photo Shoot

I always get pictures of the kids around their birthday. But for some reason this year I kept forgetting to take Caitlin's pictures. So a few days before Christmas I had two different opportunities for pictures and now I can't decide which ones to use. So I'm going to put several of them on here. Maybe you can tell me which ones are your favorites.

These first few were taken when we got home from church last week.

 

 

 Love Dominic's hat.

 The rest of these were taken when we met my parents and sister at Opryland Hotel.

 

 She's getting so big. It kills me!

 Oh boy! I'm going to have some problems in a couple of years when the girls discover this kid.

 Who knew you could get SO dirty at a hotel.

 My parents taking a quick rest. Kids can wear you out.

We had fun on our annual tour of the hotel. 

We finished off with an awesome supper and some shopping.

Christmas

Christmas was really low key and relaxing this year. At least for Jon and I. The kids were a bit crazy and excited. 

We bought Dominic a new bike this year. He's growing (silly kid won't stop) and was begging for a bike with gears. So Jon and I splurged and got him a new mountain bike with gears.

He was a little dramatic in his excitement. =)

 

Caitlin's gifts weren't as large, but she was just as happy.

Even kitty got a special treat.

We had a special Christmas dinner. We'd planned to have some guests over for lunch and I forgot when Christmas was =) and waited too long to ask them. Someone beat me to it. Since it was only a few days before Christmas we decided to just relax and spend some family time together.

We MIGHT have stayed in our pjs all day. It was wonderful!

Christmas Letter

Every year I have these great plans to write a Christmas letter, get our pictures taken, and send out Christmas cards. And it happens about once every 3 years. =)

So I'm a little late (they are still on the counter), but I actually made it this year.

I thought I'd share a few of the pictures to give you a sneak preview.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas begins. . .

Every year right after Thanksgiving I have my sweet husband drag the Christmas stuff out. We play Christmas music and set up the tree. This year we Jon even put up the outside lights.

We are now ready for the Christmas season to begin. It's my favorite holiday.

 Apparently it takes concentration to work the nutcracker.

 Lights! Probably the least favorite job.

 Our nativity scene. Read a blog once where the mom mentioned that she'd purchased an inexpensive nativity scene, because she wanted her children to play with it and feel a connection to the story.

So I followed her example and have really enjoyed watching them play. This arrangement is Caitlin's latest.

Merry Christmas!

The kids were sweathearts and let us sleep in. When we woke up we opened gifts. Jon woke up sick so he took the pictures and I handed out the gifts. So not very many pictures, but the kids certainly didn't mind.

They are both wearing Angry Birds pjs. =)

I love it when I get a gift that I know is wanted and will be loved.

Dominic has been asking begging us for a DSi for quite some time.

 Poor Jon felt so bad.

 Caitlin beside one of her Christmas presents. A 3d puzzle from Thailand.

Notice her bow. She went around putting bows on us as the gifts were unwrapped.

 Dominic putting his Star Wars legos together.

 We gave Jon some Tylenol and he slept for most of the day.

I feel bad that I gave him my sick. Poor guy!

 It was a lazy, slow day. Some of us never got out of our pjs.

 And just like last year, I completely forgot the stockings.

Dominic's had a ds game in it so I wanted to open them later. So we had our traditional cinnamon rolls after opening presents. The kids went right back to playing and I started a book. Later that morning I remembered them.

 They make good socks.

Merry Christmas from the Murrell house. 

Even though some of us are still sick, we had a really great Christmas spent with family.