cousin white elephant exchange

the day after christmas, we decided to do a few of our traditions a second time.  seri was coming up with her family, so we thought we would party a little bit more.  we started with a cousin white elephant gift exchange.  i'm not quite sure they knew what to think about it. i think paige was the most excited about receiving 4 packs of ramen noodles.

coop was so good to sit and be quiet and wait his turn, even with presents all over the place.  i was pretty impressed.

one more white elephant exchange with the big people.  we were already having repeat gifts from two days before.

the right left game with the kids. i love how sweet the big kids were with the little ones, who had no idea how to play.

giving grandma her present from all the kids:)

stockings

i always wish i would take more pictures of this event, but at least i grabbed this one:)  after all the christmas festivities, and the children are snuggled in their beds, the old people have a small gift exchange.  we each find one small present for each adult...sometimes it is a funny gift, sometimes it is a nice gift, and sometimes it is both.  years ago, uncle shae added some poetry to explain his presents, which has turned into a very funny tradition.  i think leilani had the best gift this year, she had a friend make these sweet hats for all the boys.  we laughed and laughed, and they wore them most of the night.   poor coop woke up and came out to see what all the noise was about, and they about scared him to death.

i still giggle every time i see this picture:)

cousin gift exchange

on christmas day, the hill's drove up to join us.  that evening we had the cousin gift exchange,  we have all the grandkids exchange names and buy presents.  i love that we open these gifts separate from all the other presents,  i think it gives the kids a better chance to watch each other give and receive.

as i watch these kids get so excited to pick out presents and watch them get unwrapped, it reminds me of the true meaning of christmas. i sure love all these sweet little people:)

scooter and snow fun

on christmas day the kids wanted to try out the new scooters.  luckily we found a little pavement in between the patches of snow.  carson is fearless, he is going to have to wear a helmet.

after scooter rides, grandpa and uncle shae pulled the four wheeler out to give the kids rides on the sleds.

i am so glad that these kids love to play in the snow.  it makes these long months of snow so much better:)

christmas morning at the lowrys

after we finished up at my parents house, we headed over to grandpa and grandma lowry's house.  this year we also were able to spend the morning with aunt sherry and grandpa lindberg.

cooper pulled out grandma's fisher price medical kit and went to town checking out grandpa lindberg.  grandpa was such a good sport, and it was darling to watch these two boys play together.  

carson immediately went to work putting his lego set together.

thanks for a wonderful christmas:)

christmas morning

i always love christmas morning.  i love to watch my kids get excited, and i also really love that the stress of getting christmas ready is officially over.  it is finally time to relax:)

we loved having leonie with us for christmas.  she kept telling us how in america christmas is huge, so many presents.  in germany it must be a smaller event.

merry christmas everyone:)