{Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year}

What an amazing year we've had! I am often overwhelmed by all the blessings I have received this past year. In fact, it's a few of those blessings that have kept me so busy and away from my blog this season! I'm sure things will calm down eventually... right? Just know that my heart is still out there and thinking of all our friends and family. I count you all among my blessings!

(I have to give credit to my amazing cousin for our photo idea! Thanks! Lurve you!)

{Merry Christmas!}

Christmas started this year, just like it did last year.  By begging Louis to get out of bed.

Even Grandma (who has Grandma magic and can get this stubborn kid to do just about anything) didn't have much luck.

Finally, success!

 Since Christmas was on Sunday this year (I LOVE having Christmas on Sunday!!), we decided to check out the stockings before church, but save the rest of the goods for later.  G&G forgot their stockings, but Todd was happy to lend them his best pair of woolies.

How did Santa know that Todd's pickle ornament had broken?!?

Not many 10-year-old girls ask Santa for army men.  I kinda feel sorry for the little guys.  She has big plans that involve them and her pink BB gun...

Apparently, Levi found his first Christmas simply memorizing.

Here we are all fancied up for church.

Then, present time!

Then off to Nana and Papa's house for more spoiling.  What a wonderful day!

{Christmas Eve}

For Christmas this year we were super spoiled.  We got to have both sets of grandparents come to our house to celebrate with us!  We did all the traditional things.  Posed in our new jammies in front of the tree: (I even got 3 out of 4 sizes right this year!  Levi's were too small but luckily G&G Becraft swooped in with this little elf number to save the day.)

Future Levi, let it be officially documented that this outfit was purchased and put on your cute little bod by your grandparents.  I had nothing to do with it.

This was Todd's first year as official Bible reader.  He did an amazing job and made me all teary!  It's like we're finally a real family now!

Then we tracked Santa's progress on Grandpa's phone and ate snacks while lounging on his belly.

We drank our traditional magical hot chocolate.  

Elizabeth says she's growing out of it's magic and that it doesn't work on her anymore.  All it did was give her the giggles!

 She did manage to time the loosing of a tooth just as she wanted.  She was really hoping the Tooth Fairy and Santa would bump into each other at our house this year.  I'm sure they appreciated the excuse to catch up!

{Christmas at the Museum}

Now isn't that an adorable gaggle of children dropping off their letters to Santa? That's a mailbox that's hard to miss!  

Double. trouble.

Elizabeth had to do a report on Christmas in Australia.  Talk about your perfect display timing!

...and of course, everyone got to sit on Santa's lap.

...even our tiny little elf!