It's Christmas Time

Jeff, Will, Erin and Witney say Merry Christmas

We traveled to New York for Christmas this year.  It's been 4 years since we've spent Christmas in New York so we were excited for our trip.  

We didn't let that slow our Christmas experience at home though.  Even with Alice in Wonderland in early December we still found time to decorate at the house.  We went and cut down our own tree at a local tree farm.  The kids set up their advent calendars and helped decorate the tree.  Jeffrey took charge of the Christmas village and put it all together under the tree.  We had a few evenings of sitting by the tree before heading up to NY.

Our drive to NY was uneventful (save for the fact that the kids have lost their DS chargers and we didn't have their DSs for the 9 hour drive).  When we arrived Aunt Katie, Uncle Bill, Will and Witney were at grandma's.  We had a great dinner and quiet evening with the kids playing together.  It's been a year since we've seen Witney.

Playing in the flurries 

Saturday was time at Aunt Katie's house.  Some of us watched football and other played with the kids.  We tried to get some photos of the 4 kids before heading to a 4:00 Christmas Eve service.  Let's say that was not as productive as we'd hoped.  Jeff certainly wasn't in the mood.  After service we went with Grandma and Grandpa to dinner at a Japanese Hibachi restaurant and then drove around the area to see Christmas lights.  We stopped at a nearby living nativity to walk through it too.  Simple and quiet, it was a great thing to do on a dark Christmas Eve.  There were live animals in the stable and Jeff reached out to pet the donkey while Erin pet the lambs.

Don't Take Our Picture

Before Christmas Eve Service

In PJ's Under Grandma's Tree

Christmas morning was abuzz with activity.  Daddy cooked special eggs while everyone opened their stockings.  Santa was very nice to everyone.  After Aunt Katie and clan arrived we sat down for breakfast followed by the anticipated present opening.

Momma's Boy

Paper flew.  Shouts were heard everywhere.  Jeff got 3 Lego Heroica games he'd been wanting.  Erin received a special  note telling her that we would take her to get her ears pierced.  As you'd expect, the rest of the day was spent putting together Lego games, opening Pet Shop toys, trying out new DS games (Aunt Katie came through with some new chargers), reading new books, trying on new clothes etc..  Mommy got a Kindle Fire, so she was certainly occupied with that.

Building Heroica with Daddy and Uncle Bill

  
The kids did get a special visit from their Uncle Jonathan.  It's been a year since we saw Uncle Jon and it was nice just to hang out and relax with him.  He's been working hard and I hope we get more chances to see him next year.

Hi Uncle Jon

The next few days included a trip to the Museum of Play and Erin's trip to get her ears pierced.  The Museum of Play is a truly cool place.  The kids could have spent all day there.  Erin had a great experience getting her ears pierced and was so brave.  She loves her new sparkly ears.   Of course there was still time at Grandma and Grandpas to play more Legos, battle on the Wii, and knock down some Angry Birds.

Cool Fish!

Shopping

Holding a Butterfly

Waiting to Get Ears Pierced

1..2..3..

All Sparkly

Wednesday we packed up and headed off.  As is usual, the only real snow of the week was falling, but not enough to keep us there.  We got home Wednesday evening, broke out some more Legos and Wii games at home.  Now we are waiting for Christmas Number 2 with Noni and clan this weekend.