christmas day...

goes a little something like this...

mommy gets up and puts the muffins and sausage balls in the oven, early, like 6:30 a.m.

kids wake up and walk out into the living room and see this...the gifts that santa has left for them.

olivia's gifts from santa- a REAL digital camera (pink of course!), a REAL fish, and a microphone.

a BIG basketball goal, a REAL basketball, and a BIG firetruck that makes noise. :)

we play and pose for some pictures...

then we dig into our stockings and see what santa has left in there...

this year the kids were most excited about the candy canes-- really??

while looking at our stockings olivia remembered to look at the plate of cookies she left out. here is what she saw...

empty glass of milk, half eaten cupcake, nibbled cookie, and a dirty wet towel.

o was really thrilled that santa used the towel she left AND the reindeer ate the reindeer food we left for them in the front yard. ;)

then the kids open a few gifts from mommy and daddy.

now it is time to get dressed and load up the car to head to allen for the "blanchette christmas" at nana and gramps house. more family. more gifts. more food. and lots of fun!!

the ridiculous amount of gifts! there are a TON of people, but really this is might be a little much. (oh, i should mention that my parents "cut back" this year!)

side one of the study

side two- the gifts that made it under the tree.

gramps and jack diggin' into the stocking candy. jack knows who will open his candy for him every time-- gramps!!

daddy posing with the "cool" snowflake glasses. stylish don't ya think?

olivia and gramps with the BIGGEST gift under the tree- the princess art kit. olivia could not wait to rip open this gift. good thing it lived up to her expectations. she LOVES it!! way to go gramps (and nana).

mom and gramma. this picture makes me miss my grandpa. :( his presence was missed for sure.

one of mark's gifts from chrissie... now everyone will know they are entering a baylor lovin' house. sic em bears!

jack's favorite gift-- the rescue station!! thank you nana and gramps!! :)

then it is time to load up again and go to b and pops for the "bowlin/fifer christmas." repeat-more family. more gifts. more food. and lots of fun!!

***by this point in the day everyone is tired of me taking their pictures, and honestly i get lazy with the camera. that does not mean we are having any less fun or enjoying ourselves any less, just less documentation. :)***

o with her stacks of gifts. she was ready to open them up!!

jack had the "gift opening" thing down. he was even getting pretty good at the bows by this point in the day.

inspired by jack's love for the hotel robe at the beach, b got the kids all monogramed white robes with matching slippers. so stinkin' cute!! great gift b!!

and to end our evening with the bowlins and fifers we opened our stockings. :)

and after an exciting day we head home full of gratitude for family, an abundance of thoughtful and generous gifts, and remembering that this day is really about the birth of our savior, jesus, whom we desperately need. we ended our day by reading the real christmas story (luke 2) and thanking god for all of the blessings he gives us, but also for his son and the love, grace, and mercy he shows to us.

our prayer is that your family had a day filled with fun, family, and some gifts, but that you would know the incredible love that can only be found in christ through a deep and personal relationship with him, who's birth we celebrate today!!

merry christmas to all and to all a good -night!