Our Christmas

This year's Christmas was one of the best we have had since having children. We have the awesome pleasure to have most of our family live within 45 minutes of our home. We also have the pleasure to have a VERY large VERY close family. It does make it difficult at Christmas time, with three very small girls who just want to spend some time playing with their new toys, to try and make time for all that awesome family. Last year we made the decision to spend Christmas day with only one family (Prince Charming's or mine). We worried about telling one family or the other that we would not be there. But last year it actually worked out well. This year was no different because my side of the family was all home in NY this year. Prince Charming's brother spent it in CA with their in-law's family. So that meant we were able to spend time with the family that was in town. We started Christmas morning with a quiet morning here at home with the girls and then we were able to spend the whole rest of the day with my family. We then took the whole day after Christmas and spent it with Prince Charming's family.

(unfortantely I realized I posted these backwards...so you get to read them from last day to first)

The Day after Christmas with Prince Charming's family

The day after Christmas we went over the Prince Charming's parents and spent the whole day there. We had lunch and opened gifts. Prince Charming and his dad went rabbitt hunting and caught three. We then had dinner and played some games. Nice and relaxing... just as Christmas should be!

Mommom reading a book to the girls (this one is going in a frame I think)

Poppop handing out gifts
The girls waiting for their gifts

Daddy and Princess #3 waiting for gifts

Daddy's new hunting clothes

Poppop's new picture

Daddy and Princess #1 playing Connect Four

A good romp with Daddy to end the day

Christmas with Domestic Goddess Family

After a relaxing morning we went over to my parent's house and had a brunch then we opened gifts my parents and my brother's family. My sisters came over for dinner and we opened gifts after dinner with them. All in all it was a relaxing and fun day...

My brother Uncle Paul and Aunt Pharmacist

My parents
Our family

My sister Miss. Birdie

my sister's, Miss. Dawn's, family

The girls helping Grandpa open his gift

The girls playing in their new sleeping bags

The Math student and Princess #2 snuggling together

Miss Christmas and The Cop playing with Princess #3's block set

while Princess #3 takes a nap with Aunt Pharmacist.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning found our family quietly snuggled down in bed. Seriously.... Prince Charming and I were up about 2 hours before the girls and we were just sitting around waiting for them to make their appearance. We were so excitied because we had to two brand-new bicycles just sitting there waiting for the two older girls. Princess #3 woke up early as usual and we were playing with her and she took her first steps between us (yes... she is very young!). When the girls did finally wake up they were were so excitied about their new bikes! We had some quick breakfast (and I mean quick) and then on to reading the Christmas story. We then finished our Advent wreath lighting, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and onto gifts. We opened stockings and some fun gifts. The older girls mainly got a Barbie doll, books and a bicycle. Princess #3 got some books. Prince Charming got new wireless controllers for his playstation but we ended up exchanging them for some new bibs and a coat from Cabelas. I got some movies I wanted The Nativity Story, and Pirates of the Caribbean III some earrings and a bottle of wine.

Princess #3 taking her first steps

Princess #1's new Tinker Bell bike

Princess #2's new Princess bicycle

Princess Charming and Princess #1 reading the bible story

Princess #2 and Prince Charming reading the advent lesson written by yours truely

Jesus' birthday cake Princess #2 opening her stocking

Princess #1 opening her stocking Princess #3 opening her stockingPrincess #2's mermaid
Princess #1's Mariposa

Reilly's present

Prince Charming and girls riding their new bikes

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we spent the day relaxing and then we went to church and spent the evening with Prince Charming's parents. The girls were able to wear these beautiful Christmas dresses that my mother had made for them...

The Cutting of the Tree

First in the Christmas schedule was the tradition of tree cutting, which was a bit different this year ...

As you know if you follow this post we live in upstate NY and that means the weather can be unperdictable, and December was no different. The day we decided to go and cut down our tree we were a little short on time anyway but we were also blessed with an ice storm (pictures are courtsey of my friend...)

The majority of the area was without power and when we got to the tree farm they also had no power so thankfully we had packed a few flashlights. We cut our tree by flashlight and it was COLD!! We probably didn't pick our favorite tree we just picked the closest tree that fit the bill. What we didn't think about was that because of the ice storm the tree we picked was covered in a layer of ice and snow. We had to leave it in the garage for 3 days until it warmed up enough to thaw out. Then we brought inside all the ends of the branches were broken and hanging down. Oh well... we really did have a Charlie brown tree...

Prince Charming and the older girls starting the tree hunt

Checking out the tree trunk

Princess #3 and I just hanging back taking pictures"TIMBER"

The girls ready to head back to the truck for warmth and hot chocolate