Christmas Number One

This past weekend we celebrated our first of many Christmases—this one with the Ruda’s. We spent a relaxing Saturday with just my parents, and then Dad, Mom, and I headed off to Miriam and Aidah’s ballet that evening. It was very sweet to watch the girls on stage and see them dressed up so beautifully. My poor sister had quite the day: her youngest girl, Clara, broke her arm! We all felt so bad for them!

After church on Sunday we all celebrated Christmas together at Katie’s house starting with a delicious brunch, a kid’s rest time (equals adult game time), and then gifts. It’s always a little crazy with 5 kids under 5…especially opening presents! But we all had lots of fun and capped off the evening with a dinner out at Olive Garden. It was a nice break to have a restaurant cook us a meal than doing it ourselves!

Proud Daddy with his girls

No pictures can be taken during the ballet, so I had to settle for taking pictures of the girls dancing with their flowers afterwards.

The whole group after the ballet

The BEST picture of my mom with her four oldest grandkids. Grandparents opening gifts: Katie’s kids made them homemade coasters.

Aidah was SO excited about her pink sweater from uncle Tom and aunt Julie

As you can see, my boys got too hot in their sweaters and quickly pulled off their shirts (keeping it classy). The above picture is Seth and Sam opening their gift from Ben and I: sleeping bags. (I love that with kids you can buy them something that they NEED, and that you would buy them anyways and call it a gift.) They thought that they were the coolest and have been toting them around the house since. We’re hoping to say adios to pack-n-plays when traveling and just have the boys sleep with their sleeping bags (we’ll see if that actually happens).

Sam, Seth

My Dad got Seth and Sam kid sized golf clubs at an auction. He was very excited to give them, and all three boys (Ben included) were very excited about receiving them!

Katie’s girls got princess dresses from my parents from Disney Land. Miriam is Belle and Clara Snow White (note the broken arm). Aidah got a Cinderella dress, but I failed to get a picture of her (it’s pretty hard to keep her still).

Dad, Mom and I with Katie’s girls.

Daddy and his boys sporting their new clothing.

Here’s the boys wearing their new HAND SEWN pajama’s from my mom. Aren’t they amazing! She’s seriously so talented!