Christmas fun!

a few more pics from Christmas-

all set up, waiting for the AM!

Christmas breakfast courtesy of my amazing husband!

Christmas night at my inlaws with the cousins, more fun-

Theo and cousin Cooper. goof balls!

the best Christmas gift, xbox 360 with Kinect, my kids have never had so much screen time in their whole lives, I can't wait for my toe to heal so I can jump up and down too!

Christmas Eve pony rides

We went to The Bravern on Christmas Eve for a little free pony riding and last minute letter writing to Santa and maybe a few last minute gift (ahem, Jeremy!) the kids had a blast.  Later that evening we opened Christmas jammies that the kids had picked out for everyone and had a fantastic dinner that Jeremy made.  Our original plans got canceled but it was nice to have a quiet evening at home, the kids were in bed by 8:30pm and Jeremy and I started on our toy building and present wrapping, we always make a few cocktails, pop a movie in and get deep into Playmobil building, it's a tradition every year.  We are going to be pretty sad when our kids no longer play with Playmobil, those large sets take forever to build but we love it!

, I love that they pick their own things now (i.e new Christmas jammies)  and even wrap them for themselves!

Ta Da!  is my girl long or what?

Joy to the World!

this is joy...

this is blessings...

I love when jeremy makes breakfast, especially on Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

ugly Christmas sweater party

The parties keep coming...Tyler and Jessica's annual ugly Christmas sweater party!

Mullet hair Jeremy and I with his brother Tyler and sis in law Jessica
(don't I look super middle aged, suburban mom in this pic, wow!)

 Jeremy won last year for the ugliest sweater so this year he wanted to give someone else a chance to win  (that was his excuse at least for not wearing an ugly sweater)

Jessica with not only an ugly sweater but also a baby bump, only 2 months to go and I get a new niece!

Christmas celebration #1

Our whole family was able to get together last weekend for an early Christmas celebration.  Justin and his family came from Spokane and Trevor and Kendra from Portland.  We had a blast!   I like spreading it out because so far this week has been quiet because the kids are occupied with new toys.  I got my cute little measuring cup stacking dolls (Thanks Kendra and Trevor) and many wonderful new treats.  It's so nice to see my kids and their cousins have so much fun exchanging gifts.  My mom and John made a wonderful dinner, it was perfect.  Merry Christmas!

 Kendra, Shyrah and me (and Theo)

Sunrise likes to sleep through all the festivities!

Playmobil firehouse, yay!

Praline and Playmobil, fun!

Theo really wanted this Lego Star wars sticker book.

playing a new game





making a list

How fantastic are these?

they on my Christmas list and if I don't get them for Christmas then there is always my birthday  (perfect birthday present, Kitchen aid, please!) , my kitchen needs these little cuties!

busy!

 Last weekend we had swim lessons, a kids birthday party, a lovely walk around Green lake seeing lights, a way past our kids bedtime (and mine) dinner party, then on Sunday we had church, a family birthday party, a little bit of work, and last but not least The Amazing Race finale (super disappointed with the winners) We had a whirlwind weekend, deep breath, exhale...moving into a super busy weeks, super busy.  I am helping out at the store this week, doing a bunch of closing shifts which means lots of late nights and the regular stuff during the day and then more closing shifts, it will be busy but I like it. I like it because after Christmas we have a nice long week of calm, Jeremy has 10 days (yay!) off, and besides my nieces birthday and my own, it's a pretty quiet week, lots of playing with new toys, and seeing friends, just the way life should be at the very end of the year.

Green lake walk

cute dads

4 kids in a wagon

Crash, apparently 4 kids is too many!

I forgot to post a pic of our tree all decorated and pretty, I love it!

2 weeks until Christmas, but who's counting?  (me, me, me!)

Christmas ridiculousness (if that is indeed a word)

I saw this fine fellow (who I assume is Jesus) this morning while out running errands, I did a super almost illegal wide turn just to get a picture and I have had a smile on my face ever since, reason #347 why I love the Christmas season, ridiculous decorations, awesome!

light it up

I meant to post this weeks ago but I kept forgetting and now it's really close to Christmas...but if you want to spread some good cheer to our service men and woman overseas here is an idea:

I read an article while at a rest stop near Vantage Washington heading back from our November Spokane trip and saw an article about a service man from Yakima who wanted Christmas lights for his air base, you can read the article here.  We love Christmas lights at our house, they add sparkle and wonder to the delights of Christmas and it made me a bit sad to think of the wonderful people serving our country all over that will not only miss Christmas with their families but also the delights of lights.  The kids and I got lights, we just made Mr. McGowan some cards and I will mail it tomorrow and hopefully it will get to Afghanistan soon and Christmas delight will be spread.  I think the more lights the merrier.  The address can be found int he article.

Merry Christmas people, spread the cheer, light it up!

it's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

We got our Christmas tree yesterday, early for us as we usally get it so late but this year we have weekends together, the first time in 10 years, I am feeling so blessed just for that.  I love Jeremy's job and schedule. I know most people have weekends together but like I said this is the first time since we have been married that we have all weekend, every weekend together and that means we get a Christmas tree on the first weekend in December!  We go all out (insert sarcasm here) and search high and low for a Christmas tree at Home Depot, it sort of reminds us of our Christmas tree shopping in NYC.  Sadly, Home Depot this year was pretty picked over so we went to Lowe's instead and found a fantastic tree.

NYC ornaments, some of my favorites!

showing off their new ornaments that Jeremy and I pick for them every year

whooping it up, cheesy pictures and all!

funky posing all around, why on earth the bending down in the front?
it must be a holiday party with an open bar, cheers!

We can cleanup it up if we need too!
 (vintage dress, Capitol Hill, $8, no joke, love it!)
I am also sporting the classic Carissa smirk/pre-smile what-not.

did someone say "smile"  Jeremy takes the cake on the cheese factor in this pic!

49 days until Christmas,

who's excited?!!!