Colusa for Christmas-part 2-Christmas Day:)

The kids woke up around 7:15, and were excited to go downstairs to see if Santa came! We had fun opening gifts with them. And it was fun to have my mom and dad, and Luke and Erin there, as well!   Then we had some down time until Kyrstin, Chris and Cal, and Eric, Mandy and the girls came later in the day.

It was fun to get to spend time with everyone, open gifts, and enjoy a great meal together!  

Will went straight to the note before even looking at presents! He was glad to see Santa ate the cookies:). 

Will was excited to open his big gift, and we all enjoyed using it throughout the day!

Grace hot her luggage, but was most excited about her purple lollypop! 

Nice shot, Aunt Erin!

Uncle Eric giving the kids a basketball lesson:). 

Fun with all the cousins. 

Cal giving a concert with Grandma, and Kate wanting to join in. 

Gift time!  The kids opened their gifts first, then we were actually able to open gifts calmly thanks to a showing of Calliou upstairs:). 

Grace loved her doodle board! Thanks, Aunt Karen!

Go Pilots!

I wanted to get a picture of the kids in front of the tree, but the only way we could get them all together was to tell them they could watch Calliou.  Again, thank you to Calliou:).  Not my favorite show, but definitely a hit with the kids!

Dance party with Grandpa Leo.  Pretty cute to see all their moves:). 

Colusa for Christmas!

We made the road trip down to Colusa on the 22nd.  It was our first time driving down for Christmas, and we were fortunate that we didn't have delays with the snow!

It was great to get to spend time with family!

Fun with Aunt Karen and Owen!

Christmas cookies with Grandma Cindy.  They were so good!

We took advantage of a beautiful day and went to the park!

I think Uncle Eric and Em are swinging in the background:).

Walking around the neighborhood looking at decorations.

Fun looking at the lights with Aunt Erin and Uncle Luke!

My attempt to get a picture of the kids in front of the tree on Christmas Eve after mass:). 

Christmas Eve dinner with Luke and Erin.

Note to Santa and some cookies! Will wanted to make sure they were right in front of the chimney so he wouldn't miss them. 

Grace's Birthday!

We had a very fun birthday celebration for Grace's third birthday! It was part house-warming party, part Christmas party, and part birthday party! I realized that it wasn't all about Grace when about half way through the party, she came down with her blanket and pacifier and laid down in front of a room full of people:).  She loved seeing her friends, though. And loved eating a lollypop and a cupcake:).

The kids wanted to decorate the tree with balloons:).  

"I'm three!"

Grace and Emily with Grandma Reen. 

The kids were SO excited to eat lollypops for Grace's birthday! 

December-Part 2

We tried to take advantage of some activities the holiday season has to offer:).  Below are some of the things we did.

Went to Jamison Square in Portland for a tree lighting.  We missed the tree lighting:), but got to see the tree, which was fun! 

  They have lights at our zoo all  of December.  It was super cold, but worth it to bundle up to check it out! 

Pat's dad has a holiday party for his employees each year, and we're included, as well.  The kids LOVED eating all the chips and salsa they could, and hanging out with all the big kids. 

Santa came to our church to visit the kids after the Christmas pageant.  Will was nervous, but excited to see him!

Grace loved it! 

Kate, not so much:). 

December

Mom's visit and kitchen remodel:)

We started December with a visit from my mom, which was fun.  She amazingly transformed our kitchen by painting the cabinets white.  I didn't take any before pictures, but found a blurry picture of the kitchen that makes the transformation look even better! 

I'm doing the after first, because it looks so great!

And here's the before.  Like I said, not a great picture, but at least kind of shows what it looked like.
Way to go Mom!

And she still found time to have fun with the kids and make a gingerbread man!