Christmas As A Family of 4!

This month has been so busy!! I hate that the holidays are so busy. I just want to take it all in and enjoy it, but sometimes I find myself going from one activity to the next just wanting to be at home. I love everything about Christmas and I love having a Christmas baby but sometimes it gets crazy. Every year I also say I will have Andrew's birthday party planned by October but that never happens. I think that sounds like a great New Year's resolution! This year I was so excited for Christmas as a family of 4! Andrew is at the best age for having a great Christmas spirit. Of course, Buddy the elf came back to our house this year to watch over Andrew. Finding Buddy was the highlight of Andrew's day and he loved to hear where Grandma's elf was everyday too.

 

This year my family decided to come stay with us for Christmas. My mom, sister, and Justin came out on Christmas Eve and left the day after Christmas. We all went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was too funny at times because Andrew and Justin were so excited that they could not stay quiet. Andrew loved singing along with the Christmas songs. They also had all of the kids up on stage for a Christmas story and I about lost it watching Justin help Andrew up to the stage. It was so cute! Every Christmas Eve since Andrew was born I find it hard to keep it together because I am so overwhelmed with how blessed I am. I know that there are so many people out there that are missing loved ones!! I am so thankful to be able to look down the row at church and see my family smiling back at me.

 

 

After church, everyone put on their PJs and then we read the boys a story. The boys also left cookies and milk for Santa and then they were off to bed. Andrew was the first one up on Christmas morning! I think it was about 7:30 so we were lucky. We spent the morning opening gifts and eating breakfast that Mark made. We all pretty much stayed in our PJs the entire day and played games. It was great to spend time with everyone.

 

Listening to the story

Santa ate the cookies

 

 

 

He was cracking me up with opening the gifts. He wouldn't even have a reaction until all of the wrapping paper was off and then he wanted to look at the back of every box. It was so cute!

 

 

Andrew looks pretty into Justin's new Nintendo DS

One of his favorite gifts!

Here is his other favorite!!

Mark's parents also came for a visit on the Friday after Christmas. It was great spending time with them!! They gave Andrew and Lucas a membership to the Children's Museum!! On Sunday after church we went to show Mema and Papa what it was all about.

 

Their reactions are too funny!

 

 

 

Love these fun moments with Papa!!

 

 

Ice fishing

 

 

 

I was also able to take a trip out to Cincinnati for the day to visit all of my friends from home!! I decided to take Lucas with me because some of them had never met him. It was so much fun!! All of the girls were able to make it! When we get together it is like we were never apart. I love them all so much!!

 

Charlotte and Lucas hanging out!

 

Love her!!

 

Group shot!! Just like homecoming!

 

 

I guess not just like homecoming because we didn't have this couch full of kids then!

Not only do I love my friends, but they also have pretty amazing husbands too!!

 

Christmas was great this year and I love that our family has grown to four now!! I loved watching Lucas with his new gifts and Andrew's reaction to all of the new toys. I also loved watching Andrew get so involved with the real Christmas story. After we opened presents he said, "wait, we forgot to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus before we opened our presents!!" We all stopped what we were doing and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. That kid makes my heart so full!!