Christmas round 3

The friday after Christmas, we packed up and headed to Fredericksburg. We celebrated christmas with Brent's family on Friday and half of Satruday. Saturday we all loaded up again and drove to Austin to have Lindig Chrsitmas (brent's mom's side).

What I love about Brent's family is that they are a BIG family! There are so many of us when we get together. I also love that they don't do presents. The focus is family and Jesus' birth. All the cousins are assigned a new part each year to the Nativity play. This year, Ezra was a Shepard  Emersyn was Mary and Elynn was an angel. Each year, we have been able to add lines to the play. There are 13 cousins and one on the way, so we pretty much can do the whole play. Sometimes, uncles have to play the part of the inn keeper and everyone sings. It is awesome and my kids LOVE IT!

The whole Eilers crew

The siblings were able to get Oma and Opa a Keruig for Christmas!

Grace: an angel

Solanus: Joseph

Ezra: a shepard

Emersyn, Ezra, Grace, Maria and Solanus

The three angels: Grace, Elynn and Maria

Checking out baby Jesus

Andrew: baby Jesus

Ezra and  Caleb: the shepards

Mary, Jospeh and their donkey: Zachary

The angels appearing to the fearful shepards

Uncle Fr. Brian playing with Elynn

The end

Group picture: all 13 cousins

Christmas round 2!

After round 1 of christmas, we were ready to be home and have Christmas at our house with just the 5 of us. We have tried to be at our house for Christmas with just the 5 of us ever since the kids were able to "get" christmas. It has been fun!

Christmas Eve, we went to our 5 o'clock church service and then headed to my dad's house for dinner and christmas. I don't have any pictures from that night, but it was a great night.

Christmas morning, We woke up and Santa had come. So far, we have been able to keep everyone upstairs until EVERYONE is awake and then we can go downstairs together. I love getting their little surprised  happy faces on camera as they round the corner. I think the best part of Christmas, as a parent, is seeing your kids joy and excitement of the whole thing.

We had a great day of just hanging out, getting everything organized and put away (my favorite part ;)), and playing/figuring out everything we got. It was a sweet christmas. Not a big christmas, which is how it should be!

Ezra asked for a basketball hoop and a bow and arrow.

Emersyn asked for a Jessie and Woody doll that talks and dress up clothes.

Elynn didn't ask for anything, but she got a cool, big cardboard house with a baby alive doll that wets its diaper.

Brent got a gaming camera, belt and a Texas A&M pullover.

I got running shoes!, a yoga mat and a new long sleeve A&M running shirt. (guess we didnt get any pictures of this! ha)

Christmas Parties and Round 1 of Christmas

Ezra and Emersyn had their class Christmas party the last week of school. For Ezra, his class had a little party in their room where they got to have a book exchange between the students, watch a movie and bring a bag of goodies home from his teacher. After their class party, the whole school put on a Nativity play. It was so sweet. My little guy was a DOVE! Yes, he picked it and was so happy about it.

Opening up their books

Ezra, the Dove

The dove in action

His whole school after the play

Emersyn's class party consisted of lunch, a story, craft and some goodies. She has a sweet little class with great parent involvement. We are truly blessed by Ezra and Emersyn's schools.

Round 1 of Christmas began in Johnson City at my mom's house, which she had before getting married and moving to Houston. It's nice for us that she still has it, so we can all meet up and not have to truly travel too far.

We had a house full. My mom, Ron, Malachi and his family, Ashley and her family, Our family, my grandmother and Aunt with her husband. It was great. On Saturday we all hung around the house enjoying each other's company and SNACKING. We had chili and tamales later that night before we headed to the town square and PEC company to look at lights and get a picture with Santa. After light seeing, we came home to dessert and presents. We always have a 10 dollar white elephant between the adults, which involves a singing Christmas wreath. This wreath has been in the family for about 12 years and is always in the white elephant mix. Every year we forget who got it last, so it's kinda like walking egg shells opening up the gifts to see who is going to end up with the wreath this year. Well, we were the lucky ones to get the wreath this year. I am going to have to be creative on how to wrap it next year!

The whole crew

making sugar cookies

the finished prodcuts

Ashley and baby Townes

All the cousins with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Ashley and I had to be in the picture too. 

Elynn, my little gingerbread

PEC lights!

This year, for the first time in my family, we did the nativity "play" with the kids. My kids are used to doing this every year with Brent's family. This year, we just had the kids dress up in the different parts, read a nativity story and took pictures. As they get older, we will be able to act out the play. It is such a sweet, special and important thing to have them do each christmas. I feel like it gives them the TRUE meaning of christmas, and takes the focus away from TOYS!

A wise man, two angels, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus

Mary and baby Jesus

Mary and the two angels

We had such a great time with my family. I love getting to celebrate with them. I am truly blessed.

Our pictures with Santa

I cannot believe that Christmas is in ONE week! It just doesn't seem real. I am ready, well, have everything bought, now I just need to wrap. The weather is not helping my cause.

We have Christmas with my family starting this week in JC (johnson city). We will be home, just the 5 of us (wahoo!) on Christmas day and then head to Fredericksburg/Austin next weekend for Christmas with the Eilers/Lindigs. I am looking forward to just being around here and not having to travel far. I am excited about spending some good family time together and continuing traditions with our kids as they are getting older to catch on and appreciate them.

Before all the madness, I decided to post some pictures we took this year with Santa.

We went to Bass Pro to take a picture with Santa, and I got the BEST picture of Emersyn and Ezra, NO Elynn! So, here is a picture of all three of them at Bass Pro. 

We got to a christmas party every year at Brent's co-workers house. Santa stops by every time!

Ezra telling Santa what he wants: a basketball goal and an orange bow and arrow

Emersyn telling Santa what she wants: a talking Jessie and Woody doll and zoo legos

So sweet!

Elynn wouldn't have anything to do with him until I gave him M&M's to give her. She isn't getting anything for Christmas, I guess. ;)

Family photo

Ezra and Emersyn's picture with Santa at Bass Pro