Christmas

I am finally getting a minute to sit down and upload pictures and update the logs!  I am sad that we didn't get our Christmas card out this year, but I am working on sending out New Year's cards!  We got our pictures done late this year and with very little vacation time and James working long hours, we didn't get pictures done until the Saturday before Christmas!  Well, I figure that most people were also having a rough year getting it all done because we only received 5 cards!  I hope everyone is recovering from the holidays, I know a whole lot of people were sick and crazy busy.

Santa pictures were definitely memorable this year!

Christmas was wonderful here.  We were able to do some fun things with the kids and really make it a good end to the year.  We went and saw Christmas lights, made cookies, watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (per Eric's request), made gingerbread houses, saw Santa and did our Advent calendar.  We didn't adorn the house to the extent that we usually do because of the house being on the market, but we kept it nice and simple.

Reindeer Cookies

Christmas Lights at the Gullo's

Our "Gingerbread" Nativity

We spent Christmas Eve with James' side of the family.  It was wonderful.  We enjoyed time with everyone and sharing laughs, gifts and a delicious meal.  The boys really liked meeting their new cousin.  Eric loved to touch his hair!  Josephine really needs to get some more hair so she can keep up with her baby cousin.  We love having family so close to us and I can't imagine having it any other way.  We are so blessed to be near each other.

Alex was really excited about Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Christmas Eve Pajamas

Christmas day my parents came over and we enjoyed more laughs, food, gifts and excitement.  The boys were over the moon with what Santa brought them!  They had been asking for Skylanders for about 8 months!  Finally they got it and they were so excited.  Josephine really liked unwrapping gifts and playing in the paper and ribbon.  She made us all laugh with her excited squeals and expressions.

SKYLANDERS!!!!

Thanks Santa

She loved her maracas

She loved all her new toys

modeling the hat Grandma made her

The day after Christmas we had a showing scheduled!  It was CRAZY but we got the house ready to be shown at 9:30 in the morning the day after Christmas!  If ever you want your house cleaned up after a holiday, just have someone schedule a showing!  We crammed 3 dogs, 3 kids, GiGi and myself into our van and drove around while the prospective home buyers looked at our home.  A cold front finally came in that morning and it was COLD!  Well, for us it was cold.

Eric loves his new pillow pet!

Alex loves his new Legos

After everyone left, and Christmas was done we found Moroni like this!

We had a wonderful Christmas and feel very blessed to have so many wonderful things to celebrate   For the first time in a few years I really got into the Christmas spirit and it felt like Christmas.  There was so much joy and love in our home that it was bursting at the seams.