Christmas 2014

So many pictures and I left a ton of them out for this blog post!  It was an action packed few weeks leading up to and celebrating Christmas!  Jack and Maddy got to visit Santa at Bryan's work one evening and got to take home their own stuffed dogs.  Jack commented that he didn't think it was the real Santa and must have been one of his helpers.  :)  The next two pictures are my favorite gifts this year... made by the kids.  We made some fingerprint snowmen ornaments this year for the grandparents.  The kids loved picking out the colors and painting them!  Also in preparation for Christmas - cookies!!!  Although the kids enjoyed cutting out the cookies, they got bored quickly and left me with all the frosting and baking.  Good thing I was in the spirit!  :)

We stayed in Omaha for Christmas Eve and stuck to our family tradition of early evening church, a yummy meal (ham balls, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, and fruit) and then opening presents!  My dad got to join us this year and it was awesome to have him here.

Here are a few shots of our Christmas Eve night.  Both kids were spoiled as usual.  Maddy got a princess dress, Jake and the Neverland Pirates Legos, and princess Barbies.  Jack's favorite gift was the Lego movie Benny's spaceship Lego set.  He also got Lego movie underwear (ha!) and Star Wars figurines.  I even found a cool little star Christmas ornament made of bike chain for Bryan.  He loved it - score!  After some playing and Lego building, it was pj time and getting a plate ready for Santa and the reindeer.

The kids must have been good enough this year as Santa brought them even more Christmas morning.  Even Papa Gary got something from Santa!  After special Christmas morning cinnamon rolls, it was time to pack for our trip north.  While we packed, Jack and Papa kept building the spaceship.  It was complete before we left!

We made it to Algona by evening on Christmas Day.  We had Christmas with Bryan's family the next day.  There was plenty of cousin time, presents, and yummy food!  Both kids were spoiled once again... Maddy got some more Legos (she's getting to be a big fan!) and Jack got a new Algona Bulldogs sweatshirt.

Our visit to Algona included lots of play time and reading books.  We even got to see Bryan's aunt and uncle, which was a special treat!  Maddy buddied right up to them and even had them reading books to her!  They got a little snow while we were there, so we got the kids outside shoveling too.  They both thought they were pretty hot stuff shoveling with the adults!  :)

And here's one more of our little lady showing off her singing skills.  She learned the whole first verse to "Away in the Manger" and blessed us with singing it a bunch over our vacation!