Not bad huh?

I didn't take very many pictures Christmas Day. Maybe another year? But here are the things the kids got this year:






For my own sake, a recap of Christmas. On Christmas Eve we went to Jen and Ben's like we do every year. We had a huge, delicious and filling dinner followed by a bunch of baked goodies for dessert. (Jen and Jill made a RR roast that I want to try) The kids played the chimes and for the first year you could actually tell what the song was. Next they broke the pinata and scrambled to gather candy. Then Santa came and handed out a present to every child. Santa got me a snuggie. I would have posted the picture, but I look too funny. Then we headed home, put the kids to bed and got to work. Most people keep a clean house all the time, but I don't like to be like everyone else. We spent a good hour or more cleaning the kitchen and living room before we got anything else ready.
Christmas morning started at 7:00. We were happy it wasn't any earlier. The kids lined up on the stairs, posed for a picture, then headed down to check out what Santa brought. We opened presents, played with toys, then had breakfast. I made some sticky buns and none of the kids liked them. Shocking. We spent the rest of the day playing with our toys. Pretty low key. Matt made a turkey for dinner and I made rolls, mashed potatoes and green beans. We played some more games then put the kids to bed. Then I tried out my new snuggie while we watched some episodes of Psych. It was a nice, relaxing Christmas day. Writing this it sounds boring, but I promise, it was fun. For reals.

Notice the resemblance?

Santa visited us at Jen's house Christmas Eve. I thought he looked a little familiar, and two of our kids thought the same thing. We were able to convince Nina that it was actually the real Santa and not her dad. Donovan revelled in the fact that he was "in" on the identity of Santa. A right of passage I guess. But Cameron found nothing familiar about him.

Pre-Christmas Festivities

I'm not going to add much extra to these pictures...





...except that after Cameron fell off the bench for the second time, we put him to bed. He wouldn't stop reaching for more candy. He never grasped the concept that the candy was supposed to go on the house. He kept trying to grab more to eat. That gluttonous Cam.






What a beauty.

more festivities

We also let the kids paint ornaments. With paint. By themselves.

Spending Birthday Money

I took Howie to spend his birthday money over the weekend (nothing like 3 weeks late) and here are a couple things he bought:

These lovely head lamps for himself and Donovan


And this nerf basketball set



When they were playing basketball in the dark with their lights on, I should have taken a picture because it was pretty hilarious. But instead, I reminded them that they were supposed to be in bed, took the ball and their lights and left the room. I am turning into quite the mean mom.

Don't leave out Cameron

He gets very mad. When I bundle up all the other kids to go out and play in the snow, I just don't think of Cam as old enough to let out there in the cold. After all, he did just learn to walk a month ago. He has let me know it bothers him when everyone else gets to go out and he has to stay in with boring me. I let him out one day this week and I think he liked it:



And he wore this jacket all the rest of this day and the next. Maybe he was afraid I wouldn't put it on him again.

Howie turned 6

Here are some of the pictures from Howie's birthday festivities:

At the family birthday party for the November birthdays, Howie requested a turtle bomber (from MarioKart). Thank goodness Grandma Bentley was in town to make it:



Howie loved the treasure hunt tradition



Hey Pam and Ben, Howie loved this 7-in-One Bakugan that you got him! Great job picking it!



Lots of fun presents



And of course, Krispy Kreme for breakfast.