The evening that we got our Christmas tree we thought we'd take a quick family photo with Nathan and Ana and all the kids. It wasn't so easy. I zoomed in on this photo and even though it's blurry it cracks me up, especially Evie's face. And notice how Luna is going for Ezra's foot (or trying to get away from it...).
Little Elin was moving so much it was difficult to get a good shot, plus it was dark.
A little better... At least now you can't see my pajama pants, except it's grainy. Blah. Oh well.
The following night we had my folks over for a very small early Christmas.
Grandpa joined the dogs on the floor so he could rest his back, but that meant the dogs were all over him, plus the kids were all down there so it got a little crazy. Elin is standing on their gift, a new kitchen play-set from my folks, which is also something they gave Noah and Evie in 2009. My kids are getting so big!!
Here our kids are opening their one big gift from the grandparents and Nathan and Ana. When we decided to do an early Christmas we didn't have much time to come up with gift ideas so we just went with what I thought was a good, a giant swing for all of them to use outside.
Gramma gets these illustrated Harry Potter books every year, but Terry got me the first one too!
Elin being cute.
The grandparents and Terry and I went in on this larger gift for Theo and Elin, two car DVD players. I like how Ana is showing them what they are with her hands.
Ana had the best "gift" though, a proper wedding band! HA! All she's ever had since they got engaged in 2008 was a beautiful little scalloped ring. They could never find a band she liked to go with it until that visit. Neugebauer's (same place he bought her engagement ring, along with where Terry and I got our wedding bands) was selling off inventory and they scored a fantastic deal on a beautiful band.
Once again, my dad the dog whisperer. Ha! He made this face with Snap too. So funny.
Luna wanted some love too.
The following day Terry set up the swing and let them at it!
Footage of their first swinging, though we've moved it to the other side and the kids go super high now.
It was a little too crowded for Noah so he joined cranky Elin. Her face!!
Elin is an expert swinger.
How fun does that look?!
Added in Theo...who's trying to get off.
Samuel had a treat when we went back in at dark, a gluten free brownie. We're back to doing gluten free but I thought it was hilarious how greedy he looked with both arms on the counter and absolutely absorbed in the work of consuming that brownie.
{Samuel seemed to be completely out of control behavior-wise after having lots of snack crackers at the ranch during the fall retreat, plus his skin was extra covered in little dry bumps, something that cleared up when we did GF before in the spring. In addition Ezra had been daily complaining of tummy aches and having "d" as Evie calls it, so Ezra is going GF too. Perhaps we'll all end up doing it. Here is a GF biscuit topped turkey casserole I made the following night. It wasn't too bad!}
That night Terry and I needed a break from the craziness so we went on a small shopping date after the kids were in bed while Nathan and Ana visited with some friends, Rachel and Aaron, at our house. We found some Christmas jeans for Terry, a couple clearance items for me, and then I posed with this fabulous gold coat. It made me laugh so much.
The next morning was the end of Nathan and Ana's visit. Here's squealing Elin finishing up her breakfast.
After six days it was time to say good bye to Nathan and Ana. We love you guys! Miss you! Hope to see you before another year has gone by, but no more funerals please.
They left and then the kids did some swinging in the back yard. Evie was a bit disappointed in the gift because it was something I wanted for them, not something they had picked (the punk) but she now agrees that it is a great gift. They have a ton of fun on it every day.
No comments:
Post a Comment