Christmas 2011

Oh, Christmas tree. Oh, Christmas tree. I wish you were a live, pine-smelly one. But you are beautiful and in six Christmas's married, this is only the second time we have put you up - so I'll take you exactly the way you are. I LOVED staying home for Christmas. No worries about traveling, packing, getting the house ready, someone to watch the cats/mail/newspapers/house, etc, etc, etc. It was an extremely stress-free Christmas. Which was extra wonderful considering there is a cute little newborn in our lives now.

We have only had two stockings at our house for five years. Now we have THREE! LOVE it! My sister, Amy, makes these stockings for each new member of our family.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care! Don't you love our fire??

Our new little family, celebrating Christmas together.

Gideon was WIDE awake at 7:00am. Personally, I think he KNEW it was Christmas morning (just kidding!) So I woke Brian up and we opened presents with a wide awake baby. Very fun!

We got Phanta our first Christmas together. Brian taught her how to unwrap presents so he could see what the gift was. She still opens presents to this day. And somehow she only manages to open Brian's presents!

New books from Cousin Robert. Thank you Robert!

Cute Elmo book from Grandma and Grandpa Sandberg. So Big is a "game" my dad plays with his Grandkids a lot. I'm so excited for when Gideon gets big enough to play!

Brian being silly and excited for another year to play online games. Thanks Jeremy and Janie!

Mokie was excited the gifts were gone from under the tree and she happily hung out underneath it.

Gideon's first tie. When I was getting Gideon dressed for his first day of Church, he was squawking a little because I pulled the shirt over his head - remember it was a onesie with tie on it. Not his favorite part. Brian comes in and starts saying that he would cry too if he had to wear a tie - blah, blah, blah. Well, I said we are NOT going to raise our son with a bad attitude of wearing a tie to church so please stop. Imagine my surprise when under the tree was a gift to Gideon, love Dad - Gideon's first tie! Precious!

My niece Jennie had Gideon's name for Christmas. She bought him this adorable first Christmas ornament.

Which you can see hanging on the tree behind Gideon. As well as some reindeer play socks and the Cars movie. Spoiled rotten! Thanks, Jennie!

Mokie eventually came out from the tree when she discovered the pile of wrapping paper. She played in there for hours.

And what would Christmas be without a nap??

It was a wonderful Christmas! We ate lots of yummy food (including French Dip sandwiches and a fancy breakfast), spoiled each other and enjoyed being a new little family. A very relaxing, perfect day.

Merry Christmas to you!!