Christmas!

 Having young kids around the holidays really is just the best. Their excitement over every little thing is contagious and Christmas was no exception. We stuck to our usual traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas day, which turned out perfectly. Christmas Eve we always host my family for a lasagna dinner after coming home from church. This year's family service was pretty great too.  Lots of movement for the little ones, a puppet show and even a Children's Choir - that included 2 Vance kids who sang their little hearts out. We came home to open presents from Uncle Matt and Aunt Joy before eating dinner and getting ready for Santa.

 Trying to figure out if it's more fun to drum on the box with his hands or actually tear open the paper.

 It was a Star Wars Christmas for this boy....and he's loving all of it!

I'm just realizing now that I didn't get any pictures of my brother or sister-in-law with the kids. Oops! After dinner the kids got their elf pj's on (I can't wait to get matching jammies again next year!) and picked out cookies for Santa. Since they had already mailed their Santa letters earlier in the month we didn't have to write another letter (thank goodness) so it was pretty easy to get them tucked into bed. 

Around 5am the littlest elf woke up for some extra cuddles by the tree. He usually doesn't wake up that early, or if he does he'll go back to sleep for another hour but those darn teeth have been bugging him. I actually sort of loved spending a little quiet time with him, in front of the tree and gifts, preparing for the crazy day that was about to unfold. It was the first Christmas for a Vance baby that wasn't a newborn. He was awake, alert and active and I just loved it.

 At 6:30am the kids clocks changed, they snuck around the corner of the hallway and then ran downstairs! We always open stockings as a family before my parents come over a little later in the morning. It's so fun to watch their faces light up as they examine each and every gift.

 When Matt was little his parents had a tradition of including scratch tickets in their stockings. And the tradition has continued at our house. Last year we won nothing while the kids won about $6. But this year we won $10 at our house and another $21 later in the day! Woohoo!

Once my parents arrived we started opening all the big gifts. I tried to slow the kids down and have them "share in each other's excitement" (seriously, I said that phrase about a dozen times that day) but  they were just too excited. 

 This year Carter asked Santa for a bow and arrow set and a pogo stick. Seriously. I have no idea where he came up with the idea for a pogo stick but he's had that on his list for over 6 months. Thank Goodness Santa's elves were able to find one, it's not that easy!

 Lucy asked for Barbies and was SO excited to see 7 princess barbies arrive from the North Pole.

 Once the gifts were open we ate breakfast, watched our usual Curious George Christmas special and then got dressed to drive down to Grandpa and Grandma Vance's house. I especially loved Simon's outfit....so cute!!

 Everyone dressed up on Christmas day!

 We got down to Matt's parents house, took some pictures and then dove into the third round of gifts!

 Lucy just adores her Uncle Adam. Actually that might be an understatement. She's obsessed! She wanted to sit with him, help him open gifts, have him build legos, read stories, play barbies...well, you get the idea.

 Her big gift from Grandma and Grandpa was a new doll house. I was holding Simon while he napped so I couldn't take a video but it was the greatest Christmas moment I'll always remember. Her jaw literally dropped wide open, completely speechless and then held her hands up to her mouth as she squealed. Priceless!

 One of my favorite parts of Christmas Day is the downtime after all the presents have been opened. We spent the afternoon cooking dinner, playing with new toys, watching movies, munching on cookies and just relaxing.

 We came home the next day to a house full of new toys, 3 excited kids and 2 very tired parents. They were quick to try out their new stuff.

This was a year of firsts for our family. First Christmas for Simon, first Christmas in our new house, first Christmas without our Yoshi. There were so many great memories this past month and I'm so incredibly grateful for this amazing family I have to share it with.