Silent Night, Holy Night
Words can not describe what an AMAZING Christmas we had this year. It was 500% better from last year (when I was so pregnant and so miserable I wanted to jump off a cliff). We stared our Christmas festivities with the annual Christmas Eve party with the Swensons only this year it took place at Uncle Joe and Aunt Jolene's house which is absolutely stunning. It was really a scene from a movie (the kind that you see around Christmas time and think that no one really lives that).
The food was delicious!
All three with new haircuts!
Super gorgeous Kate and her husband Taylor
The kids put on the traditional Nativity only this year they involved everyone by having all sing Christmas hymns in the appropriate times. It was so lovely, I was all I could do to keep from crying, just overcome with the Spirit of Christmas. Thank you so much, Trisha, Sarah and Jennifer for putting it all together
Oh doesn't Tommy look just over joyed to be playing Joseph?
Julianna sang "Silent Night" She is getting to be such a good singer!
Aunt Jolene politely asked/forced Eric and Taylor to sing "I want to be like you" from the Jungle book. They really rocked it out
Julie came up with the inspired idea this year to start a Minute-to-Win-it tournament between the three families and have Grandma and Grandpa keep time and score. This first game involved pennies inside Christmas boxes that have to be put in order according to the amount of the pennies inside
"Face the Cookie" with Gingerbread Men
Extreme nut-bolt stacking
Pick up the candy canes with on single candy cane
Stack five empty soda cans on top of a plastic plate floating in a bowl of water
Separate the M&Ms according to color
The Keeles won!!!!! Nate is holding Jack the Donkey the Official Christmas Minute-To-Win-It trophy
Time for everyone favorite part of the Christmas Eve party... White Elephant! (Trish had a stroke of divine inspiration and set up a separate White Elephant game for the kids upstairs so that we could all play in peace)
Another new thing this year (and hopefully and new a tradition for following years) was that Uncle Joe wrapped at gift card with various tapes until it was the size of a grapefruit, then we all rolled dice and if you got doubles you could start unwrapping until someone else got doubles. It was CRAZY fun!!! He had done such a good job wrapping the card it took about 30 minutes to get it out. Everyone was going as fast as they could and in the end Ryan pulled out a gift card that was bent in several places and had bite marks all from people trying to get it unwrapped (I imagine it will work just the same. Not to mention that it also came with $40 cash). This is the only picture I was able to take of the game since I was playing as hard as I could as well.
Greatest Christmas Eve party EVER! On the way home we drove around the neighborhood looking at all the amazing light displays on the house (it is so nice to live in such a rich part of town. People really go all out)
On Christmas Day we actually slept through our alarm clock and had to rush out of the house only opening one present a piece. The Little Guy got a look at his new rocking horse, (we didn't want him to get upset since he wouldn't be able to play on it for too long so we just let him look) Spencer opened a Patriots' hoodie with his name on the back; but I must have been really naughty this year because the only thing under the tree for me was a stocking containing chocolate coal and the N*Sync Christmas Time CD. But don't worry, Santa felt bad and actually left me a pile of presents in the kitchen (well played Santa).
With Grandma Julie while we waited for everyone to get upstairs
Then it was finally time to find out where we are going on our vacation in January (Julie told us about it months ago so that we could all make plans and take the time off work, but the destination was a surprise) Drum roll please....
CALIFORNIA!!!!
Going to DISNEYLAND! (my second favorite place in the world (the Temple being the first))
Adam is opening an ornament from UNIVERSAL STUDIOS! (never been there, I can't wait)
The BEACH! Spencer is looking at a beach crossword puzzle book
The WORLD RECORD MUSEUM (a place that we recently discovered thanks to the Bachelor) and the the HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME to see the BACKSTREET BOYS STAR (and other stars too)
The best part is that we are staying in a beautiful condo a block from Disneyland complete with everything we would need (including a stroller for the Little Guy so we don't even have to take ours)
After settling down from all the excitement of the trip (so basically everyone waited for me to stop hyperventilating) it was time to open all the present that we got from our name-drawing. Uncle Adam's presents to the Little Guy were a big hit to say the least.
And Spencer's present was a big hit for Adam too
After two years of very intense work my stocking was ready for this Christmas. I have an extremely talented Mother-in-law
Spencer said that he didn't know it was possible to actually "win" Christmas, but Adam WON this year when he got Julie a life-sized cut-out of Jeff Probes (Survivor host)
I'm not going to lie, it did creep me out a couple of times when I saw it staring at me from the corner of my eye. I guess I will just have to get used to it since it will apparently we with us for every Survivor episode from now on.
Then it was time to head over the Titas (still in our PJs). Santa had come over there too and the Little Guy was now a pro at knowing that he had presents coming. This Learning Lady Bug was an instant success and he cried and whined as we got it out the box (we are just not fast enough for him).
He played with it for over an hour non stop while we had breakfast and then Tia Stefani had a drum set waiting for him. My family got a camcorder for Christmas and everyone took turns taking lots of videos of the day. As soon as I figure out how to get them sent to me, I'll post them on here (maybe I'll just have to go post them from their computer)
Christmas' Naps! (if you are wondering about the face on Spencer's back, it is the new Duck Dynasty blanket that he won at the White Elephant yesterday. It goes right along with his Duck Dynasty shirt... yay...)
I have always had a hard time taking naps so I watched the "Radio City Music Hall: Christmas Spectacular" instead (how fun would it be to be a Rockette!)
I just realized that I didn't take any pictures of dinner... that's how delicious it was! I didn't even think about pictures, I was too busy eating
How cute is my baby?
With Grandpa Carlos listening to the Pentatonix Christmas Songs
David's present from Laura, a Santa Clause Snuggie!
Even though the Little Guy can go up and down the stairs with no problem, we still didn't want him to do so... hence, the barricade.
A couple of songs before it was time to go.
We got home around six thirty and still had all the presents that had been under our tree to open. Here is the Little Guy finally getting to ride his horse... oh yeah, he loved it!
A new piano!
not to mention Superman. He just absolutely fascinated by him.
Watching Superman fly
best buds.
Spencer's hoodie and new football
Our paper chain count-down to the trip!
I got the most beautiful set of Champagne flute glasses and a lot of movies I love (on top of the incredible amount of chocolate and candy!)
After finally getting the Little Guy to go to bed (it took over two hours because he just wanted to keep playing with his new toys), Spencer and I got to cuddle on the couch and watch "Four Christmases". Neither of us had seen it before, but we both really liked it. It was an unforgettable, magical, GREAT Christmas!
The food was delicious!
All three with new haircuts!
Super gorgeous Kate and her husband Taylor
The kids put on the traditional Nativity only this year they involved everyone by having all sing Christmas hymns in the appropriate times. It was so lovely, I was all I could do to keep from crying, just overcome with the Spirit of Christmas. Thank you so much, Trisha, Sarah and Jennifer for putting it all together
Oh doesn't Tommy look just over joyed to be playing Joseph?
Julianna sang "Silent Night" She is getting to be such a good singer!
Aunt Jolene politely asked/forced Eric and Taylor to sing "I want to be like you" from the Jungle book. They really rocked it out
Julie came up with the inspired idea this year to start a Minute-to-Win-it tournament between the three families and have Grandma and Grandpa keep time and score. This first game involved pennies inside Christmas boxes that have to be put in order according to the amount of the pennies inside
"Face the Cookie" with Gingerbread Men
Extreme nut-bolt stacking
Pick up the candy canes with on single candy cane
Stack five empty soda cans on top of a plastic plate floating in a bowl of water
Separate the M&Ms according to color
The Keeles won!!!!! Nate is holding Jack the Donkey the Official Christmas Minute-To-Win-It trophy
Time for everyone favorite part of the Christmas Eve party... White Elephant! (Trish had a stroke of divine inspiration and set up a separate White Elephant game for the kids upstairs so that we could all play in peace)
Another new thing this year (and hopefully and new a tradition for following years) was that Uncle Joe wrapped at gift card with various tapes until it was the size of a grapefruit, then we all rolled dice and if you got doubles you could start unwrapping until someone else got doubles. It was CRAZY fun!!! He had done such a good job wrapping the card it took about 30 minutes to get it out. Everyone was going as fast as they could and in the end Ryan pulled out a gift card that was bent in several places and had bite marks all from people trying to get it unwrapped (I imagine it will work just the same. Not to mention that it also came with $40 cash). This is the only picture I was able to take of the game since I was playing as hard as I could as well.
Greatest Christmas Eve party EVER! On the way home we drove around the neighborhood looking at all the amazing light displays on the house (it is so nice to live in such a rich part of town. People really go all out)
On Christmas Day we actually slept through our alarm clock and had to rush out of the house only opening one present a piece. The Little Guy got a look at his new rocking horse, (we didn't want him to get upset since he wouldn't be able to play on it for too long so we just let him look) Spencer opened a Patriots' hoodie with his name on the back; but I must have been really naughty this year because the only thing under the tree for me was a stocking containing chocolate coal and the N*Sync Christmas Time CD. But don't worry, Santa felt bad and actually left me a pile of presents in the kitchen (well played Santa).
With Grandma Julie while we waited for everyone to get upstairs
Then it was finally time to find out where we are going on our vacation in January (Julie told us about it months ago so that we could all make plans and take the time off work, but the destination was a surprise) Drum roll please....
CALIFORNIA!!!!
Going to DISNEYLAND! (my second favorite place in the world (the Temple being the first))
Adam is opening an ornament from UNIVERSAL STUDIOS! (never been there, I can't wait)
The BEACH! Spencer is looking at a beach crossword puzzle book
The WORLD RECORD MUSEUM (a place that we recently discovered thanks to the Bachelor) and the the HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME to see the BACKSTREET BOYS STAR (and other stars too)
The best part is that we are staying in a beautiful condo a block from Disneyland complete with everything we would need (including a stroller for the Little Guy so we don't even have to take ours)
After settling down from all the excitement of the trip (so basically everyone waited for me to stop hyperventilating) it was time to open all the present that we got from our name-drawing. Uncle Adam's presents to the Little Guy were a big hit to say the least.
And Spencer's present was a big hit for Adam too
After two years of very intense work my stocking was ready for this Christmas. I have an extremely talented Mother-in-law
Spencer said that he didn't know it was possible to actually "win" Christmas, but Adam WON this year when he got Julie a life-sized cut-out of Jeff Probes (Survivor host)
I'm not going to lie, it did creep me out a couple of times when I saw it staring at me from the corner of my eye. I guess I will just have to get used to it since it will apparently we with us for every Survivor episode from now on.
Then it was time to head over the Titas (still in our PJs). Santa had come over there too and the Little Guy was now a pro at knowing that he had presents coming. This Learning Lady Bug was an instant success and he cried and whined as we got it out the box (we are just not fast enough for him).
He played with it for over an hour non stop while we had breakfast and then Tia Stefani had a drum set waiting for him. My family got a camcorder for Christmas and everyone took turns taking lots of videos of the day. As soon as I figure out how to get them sent to me, I'll post them on here (maybe I'll just have to go post them from their computer)
Christmas' Naps! (if you are wondering about the face on Spencer's back, it is the new Duck Dynasty blanket that he won at the White Elephant yesterday. It goes right along with his Duck Dynasty shirt... yay...)
I have always had a hard time taking naps so I watched the "Radio City Music Hall: Christmas Spectacular" instead (how fun would it be to be a Rockette!)
I just realized that I didn't take any pictures of dinner... that's how delicious it was! I didn't even think about pictures, I was too busy eating
How cute is my baby?
With Grandpa Carlos listening to the Pentatonix Christmas Songs
David's present from Laura, a Santa Clause Snuggie!
Even though the Little Guy can go up and down the stairs with no problem, we still didn't want him to do so... hence, the barricade.
A couple of songs before it was time to go.
We got home around six thirty and still had all the presents that had been under our tree to open. Here is the Little Guy finally getting to ride his horse... oh yeah, he loved it!
A new piano!
not to mention Superman. He just absolutely fascinated by him.
Watching Superman fly
best buds.
Spencer's hoodie and new football
Our paper chain count-down to the trip!
I got the most beautiful set of Champagne flute glasses and a lot of movies I love (on top of the incredible amount of chocolate and candy!)
After finally getting the Little Guy to go to bed (it took over two hours because he just wanted to keep playing with his new toys), Spencer and I got to cuddle on the couch and watch "Four Christmases". Neither of us had seen it before, but we both really liked it. It was an unforgettable, magical, GREAT Christmas!
What a wonderful Christmas! :)
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