A Very Dragon Christmas

Christmas Morning

What a Christmas!  Travis says to me, "I don't know how you slid it by me to have 3 parties" . . . hee hee hee.  But it was an affair with families and friends... and you know me and hosting- I love it.  And I love the holidays.  But the kids, wow, it just gets better and better every year.  I will forever remember two particular sounds from this year.

1) The boys singing "Rudolph" (such sweet little voices) and Annamarie on cue with her "Ho Ho Ho" - priceless.

2) Laying in bed (too early) Christmas morning and hearing the giant shriek "SANTA CLAUS!" - wonderful.



The best part of Christmas Cookies (poor Maizy!)

  I ended up finding a cheap little tree for the kiddos.  They were thrilled to have their own and to decorate it.  It was a little assembly line of Tyler and Annamarie stealing ornaments from our big tree and handing them up to Carter- who really didn't need a chair but I think he thought that made him special.  We have a star on the top of our tree so I asked if they wanted to put an angel on the top of theirs. 

The Answer:

Tyler: "No, I want us to go in the sky, catch a green dragon, and put that on the top of our tree."

 

Carter did end up putting a star on top

Proud-of-Himself Carter

On Thursday we celebrated Camden's Birthday and the Christmas Pickle at Gigi and Popi's.  Kylie was the big finder.

Immediately after blowing out the candles, Holden announces for everyone to grab a candle.  The sign of a good cake. 

So excited to cake and ice cream watching Gigi dish out!

"Christmas Adam" (as the Bringhursts called it growing up) we had Travis' aunts and uncles and cousins over for our annual White Elephant wine tasting.   The kids got their first dose of presents... and dragons! 

Tyler so impatient for us to open the first dragon of Christmas, he just starts ripping it open with his teeth.

Christmas Eve my parents, Zan and Janna, and Aunt Joanie joined us for an early dinner and church.



Annamarie & Godparents

  

CUTE of her and Joan

Some tickling going on here? :)

 The boys ended up crashing after church to not be able to open presents from us, so Santa's morning was a big one!  Below is my favorite picture.

Carter wrapped himself in two big fabric present bags to be the "Last Present of Christmas" . . . creative kid.
(Tyler green, Carter red)

Tyler trying to steal a little peak.

Loving on her doll - thank you Santa

Loving his perplexus- now THAT'S a smile. Thank you mom and dad.

Loving on his pirate ship and dragon.  Thank you Gigi and Popi.

 Christmas Afternoon my entire mom's side of the family celebrated at Gigi and Popi's.  We even tried to act out the Nativity Story for the crowd.  As Travis said, "I thought there was going to be sacrificial lamb at the Birth." Yes, Annamarie played a sheep and midstory got a good tackle from her shepherds (aka Tyler and Carter)... VERY entertaining reenactment.

When Gigi and Popi try to get a picture with all six- it's pure entertainment.

Nana getting a Sheep Anna Hug.

Mary (as Mary), Camden (as Joseph) and Ryan (Baby Jesus)

The shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. (aka Tyler Carter and Holden)  I told the boys that if they would only be shepherds if their dragons could be sheep, than so be it.

"Nay-Nee" (Lani) is one of Annamarie's FAVORITE words and people.  She will say her name so excited, over and over again, the entire way if we are heading to see her. 

 

 

Just TRYING to get a good family picture here, people. for goodness sake.



Catching a sweet Popi moment with his girls.

 

A late night skype with Auntie Rhonda and Uncle Ben showing off all our cool stuff.

Tyler painting his dragon - of course green



Carter painting his blue.  They were so excited.