Saturday, December 29, 2012

Boxing Day...

So.  I don't really know the true meaning of Boxing Day.  But around here, we celebrate big.  We stay in our PJs all day, and play with all our new toys.  And in the evening, I cook up a big fancy Christmas Ham Dinner.  This year, before the ham was half cooked, my Sara had spent the entire day sleeping, adding up to nearly 30 solid hours, then promptly coughed so hard she puked.  Which landed her back in bed.  I was setting the table when Will fell asleep on the floor in his bedroom, decided he wasn't hungry and went straight to bed.  Down to four, and worse, Will's my very biggest fan of ham.  I lost energy for the whole deal by the time I'd reached the green beans, so we sided with apples and store-bought buns instead.  All the while, the phrase "No one's walking out on this fun old-fashioned family Christmas!" running wildly through my head.
But the ham was sure good.  And there are days of leftovers left over.
It was just a little quieter at the dinner table that night.  And yes.  Still in our PJs...and bedhead.

And, drumroll please....Christmas Day!

We started out the morning with a treasure hunt for the new Wii  :)

Kayte's hanging in there.  By a thread.



Sara, explaining the gift she bought for Ben... he's impressed.

No Christmas would be complete without fishing gear!

See, in the background!  The new canvas-wrapped photo that Joe bought for me.  It's the kids at the ocean, and I absolutely love it!  Have I mentioned how much I love photos on canvas???  And the pic changes color during the day according to the shadows around it.  And the sun always glows so brightly.  So. cool.  Plus, it's got my kids in it.  :)

Will's fanciest fishing reel.  For catching steelhead!

Then we went back to the Casebolt's for even more presents and Ann's famous cinnamon rolls...

Sara sat staring at this box all morning.  She didn't want me to open it, cause she was afraid I'd lose the pieces.  She just imagined what she might do with it!

The kids each have a Santa's bag with their presents in it...


...American Girl!

After breakfast, we headed back to our house.
Which looked like this:

A mess we more or less ignored, so that we could do this:

And then we all took really long Christmas naps and then headed back for Christmas dinner!
Leg of Lamb and Mac.  Yum!


Where we promptly lost Sara to the fever.  Snuggled in with Rapunzel....
Such a very Merry Christmas!


Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve actually starts in the morning...back at the parent's for more presents!
Poor Kayte, you can tell we are starting to lose her.

Will's chipper!  New slingshot!


Henry's swords.  Ben was happy to duel it out with him!
Kayte got hit pretty hard with the fever/cough that's going around, and by evening, she was out cold.  I was super-bummed to miss out on the Christmas Eve service, it really is one of my favorites...but instead I got to cuddle up with Kayte...then we headed over to Joe's families house to celebrate the big night!
Food was all ready by the time we got there, and clearly, the boys were hungry!


Super-yummy!

Grandpa read the Christmas Story...


...and then the cousins took turns performing!  This is Ben, singing his favorite, Joy to the World, at the top of his lungs.  With gusto.

My sick baby.  She didn't want to miss out!

Sara, doing her Christmas verse.

And Aunt Heather reading to the littles...
we managed to get in a round of the Newlywed Game, where Joe & I again got bested by his parents!  Next year, Casebolts!
...and then it was home to stuff stockings!

Pictures of Christmas Eve Eve...

Yes, we start out on the 23rd, so that we can have a leisurely 4 days of celebrating Christmas.  Lots of food, lots of presents, and every single member of our immediate families...cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, perfection.
First.  Food:
Stephen cooks up our very favorite: cheese dip!

Mom got the mittens from Connie Lucas...a new tradition this year!

Ok...I've been experimenting with the camera...not always great pics, but always great memories.



Dad.  Reading the Christmas Story.

I love my mom's Christmas cabin.  Even though we didn't grow up here, it's home.

Snuggle buddies.  So cute!



And then presents!

And snuggles!


And, of course, American Girl :)

My favorite.

And, my roots.

...and all the branches...

Legos!

And we always manage to squeeze in some bingo and sugar cookies.
I love this night :)