Christmas, Round 2

Is Christmas really over?  Such a strange feeling for me.  It's my absolute favorite time of year, so I'm sad it's over.  And seeing Christmas through the eyes of my boys is amazing!  But I'm also happy for new beginnings.  It's the time of year I clean, declutter, and organize, so that makes me happy as well.  Definitely a double-edged sword...but since there's nothing I can do about it, I'm going to go with the flow!  Here's a recap of the second round of Christmas for us!

 

This year our church had a special kids service...geared toward families with little ones.  It was perfect for our rowdy little bunch!  Then Christmas Eve Matt didn't go to work so we enjoyed the day as a family.  We went to Oklahoma Joe's (yes all of us) for lunch and then made our cookies for Santa later that afternoon.   

 

Cookies for Santa!

Taking turns...

The best part!

Lots of frosting and sprinkles!

The artist with his canvas...

Christmas Eve evening the boys got their "first gift of Christmas."  I prepared them early because I didn't want them to be disappointed when the opened pajamas...but a tradition for us is to have new jammies for Christmas morning.  So they opened their jammies.  Then they took their baths, got their new jammies on, made some hot cocoa, and we drove around looking at Christmas lights!  I'm hoping to make this a fun tradition for us each year also!

 

They really do love each other, even if they fight a lot!

JAMMIES!

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Mason took this picture of us!
 

I couldn't get a good picture of them...the flash kept blinding them!  While we drove around, we watched "The Polar Express."  Such fun!

Before they tore into everything...

Santa came!

These children wake up early, no matter what time they go to bed!  We got them to bed at a good time Christmas Eve night.  I had a feeling they'd be up early because of their excitement.  I was right!  I heard the first pitter-patter of little feet about 5:15.  Mason.  He ran to check on the gifts, then woke Zane up.  They both went downstairs to check it all out.  I heard a lot of things going on down there.  I could tell they were checking out all of their goods!  I even heard Mason trying to trade things with Zane!  I went out to see what was going on and saw Mason making a pile of his gifts.  I stopped that right away...afraid he would just go ahead and open them as well!  Christmas just goes too fast...I wanted to make it last as long as possible!

 

Bryce was a little unsure.  He went over to the fireplace and just looked around.

 



Annual birth order photo on the steps.  Bryce was not amused.

LOVE!

Checking to see if the reindeer ate the food we left for them!  They made a mess of it!

Gift from Santa!

The older two "patiently" waiting for their turn!

MEGA CENTURION!

I got one too!

Game on!

Thomas!

All my boys!

They had such a hard time waiting patiently and watching each other...they just wanted to open everything at once!

Lately when Bryce is excited about something, he'll say "Woohoo!" and punch his hand into the air.  It's so cute.  I am trying to get it on video but he will never do it for me one cue!

Z and M covered in wrapping paper!

The aftermath...

Spoiled?!?

I had to take a picture of these two cleaning up without whining!

Later Christmas afternoon, my parents, Adam, and Bethany came to spend the day with us.  Matt made prime rib and it was absolutely delicious!

 

Bryce with Papa and Grandma

A Hawkeye Bearcat!

What a great present!

Another one!

Look at what Adam gave Mason!!!  Oh me oh my!

Adam, Bethany, and Zane

Papa opening his gift from everyone - a popcorn machine!  We can't wait to try it out!

We spent the rest of the week sorting, organizing, and putting everything away.  I think we have it mostly in its new place.  It's just hard to keep everything where it goes when we're home all day!  The gift that has been played with the most is definitely the rainbow loom.  Zane has made more bracelets that I care to even count!  He loves it!

This past weekend we were in Des. Moines for the Bunch Family Christmas.  I'm unsure how many of us were there, but I think it was around 80!  The boys just can't comprehend that everyone there is part of their family!  Everyone knows them, and they have no clue who most of them are!  They'll get there!  I remember every time on the way to Grandma Bunch's house I'd quiz my mom about who everyone was...who went with who, etc.  And I still have trouble with some of my cousins' kids' kids!  Heck, I have trouble with some of my cousins' kids! 



A bunch of Bunches!

We spent the night at my parents house just so we wouldn't have to worry about the kids sleeping or not sleeping.  It worked out well.  We decided to leave when we got up and around this morning.  We headed out for donuts and hopped on the interstate towards home.  It was nice to get home at a good time.  I finished organizing the sub-basement, we finished putting the trees away, and Matt got the boys' bunk beds fixed (there was a recalled part).

 

Another Christmas in the books!  What great memories we are making!  Thanks to all of our family for the great times!  We love all of you!

Christmas, Round 1

So now that we have had the Baker Christmas, I can post my "ugly Christmas" wear photo!  Here I am in all my glory...with the 2nd place winner Michelle looking quite cute as well.  It was so funny to be at school with this on.  One kid would tell me how cute I looked, and the next would give me the strangest look and ask why I was wearing that.  When it was announced that I won, my class cheered so loudly, and one said "See Mrs. Baker, we told you that you were ugly!"  Gotta love the honesty of kids!

 



Ugliness at its best...

When I ordered it, I thought there was an iron-on transfer on the front.  Oh no, it's actually a small pillow that is hot glued to the front.  Honestly, it's so much worse in person!

This week was a busy one!  Tuesday was Mason's PreK Music Program.  He did such a good job!  Many people came up to me afterwards to tell me what a good job he did.  He actually sang all the songs...unlike many others who kept waving and hollering at their parents!  Way to go Mason!

 



These photos were in a slideshow during the musical.  Doesn't Mason look excited?

Wise Man Mason...

He's in the back!

Sing, Mason, Sing!

Mason and his buddy Ryder.  They think they are brothers!  They love to wear boots also!

Thursday Santa came to Jo's house.  The boys were excited to see Santa again!  It's so fun to see all of the kids and parents.  We are never all there at the same time!  Bryce was so funny - the whole time Santa was there he kept taking tractors over to him, holding them up saying "tractor" and wanting Santa to take them!  We had to get him out of the way for everyone else's pictures!

 



Brycers with Santa

Zaner and Santa

Maseroo and Santa

Jo with all of the kids - past and current!  I promise Bryce is in this picture...look behind Mason and you will see him!  I wish I would have realized at the time he was hidden...but as you can see we had a hard time getting everyone to stay put!  Ha!

This weekend we traveled to Iowa for three Christmas gatherings.  We began on Saturday morning at Matt's parents' house.

 Bryce with his new Scout...that reads to him!

Trying to keep Bryce busy so others could open gifts...he just wanted to open everything all at once!

Mason posing with his gifts

Zane with his...

Madison

Bryce helping Marcy open her gift

Mason waiting patiently for his turn.

Nate (our soon to be brother in law and uncle...congrats guys!)

Mason's new mask!

Jodie reading up about her new pan!

Nice pose honey!

Papa with the mask on!

Bryce was thrilled with his new pickup just like Papa's!

Playing chess with Uncle Brent

Grandma with Zane's mask!

Zane just couldn't wait to put together his new Legos!

After that, we headed to Matt's grandparents' house for the Baker Family Christmas.  This year we wore ugly sweaters.  Oh man were there some doozies!  I wish I would have thought to take a photo of everyone!

 

All of us together!  Front:  Mason, Nate, Marcy
Back:  Madison, Brent, Jodie, Bryce, Keeta, Craig, Amy, Zane, Matt

Great Grandparents and Great Grandkids
Tate, Mason, Carroll, Bryce, Leann, Zane, Porter

We also brought activities to play.  I brought a Minute to Win It game that another teacher at my school plays with her fifth graders.

Mindy and Sherri trying to blow cards off of the table...all but the kings!

Keeta and Madison trying to unroll a roll of streamers using only one hand.

Marcy and Jodie rolling a quarter to a fork and trying to get the quarter to stay in the tines.

Then it was time to open gifts!

 



Porter, Keeta, Nate, Zane, Carroll

Craig, Zane, Leann, Dennis, Jodie, Madison

Marcy, Mason, Matt, Sherri, Mindy, Ty, Porter

Nate got the hat!  This is a traveling gift that the family has had for many many years.  Wonder who he'll give it to next year?!?

Sunday was the Beggs Christmas.  We tried starting it early and having brunch, but due to the snow we started a little late.  

 

Mason, Marcy, Nate, Kim, Jack, Reeta



Craig, Jodie, Brent, Madison, Keeta, Casey, Cassie, Jeff

Bryce opening his gift

Zane opening his gift

When Mason opened this he said "Wow oh wow oh wow!"

Myah with her cute new hat!

What a doll baby!

Round one of Christmas was a success!  This week we will be home and will enjoy the holiday week!  We don't have much planned, which is just the way I like it!  We are looking forward to Christmas with the boys!

 

Take care and have a very blessed Christmas!!!