As usual, the Christmas season was full of activity and my quest for one good Christmas picture continued.
Checking out their Star Wars coloring books.
After a few rounds of pleading and puppy eyes, we let Henry and Walter open one present a few days before Christmas.
The next day (Sunday) we got to together with Nate's extended family to celebrate. The boys enjoyed playing with some of the cousins they don't get to see as often. Grandma A was sick, but Aunt Betsy filled in to get a few activities going...
Musical Chairs
After getting eliminated, Henry spent some time with cousins Megan and Charlotte.
Onto Foosball with cousins Preston and Lilah.
After cleaning up the church kitchen we said goodbye to everybody, drove home, unpacked the food from party #1, threw in the suitcases, presents and food for party #2, and hit the road. We spent the night at Gramps' and Grams' house and left for Grandma Bakkels' the next morning.
We grabbed a quick meal at the McD's Drive-Thru (which has become an annual event, it seems) as we left town with Mimi Megan. H & W were pretty content watching The Muppets' Christmas Carole (Henry's new favorite) in the back seat with Mimi...so content, in fact, that they held hands.
We made it to Grandma Bakkel's in the afternoon. The boys had been looking forward to seeing everybody. Unfortunately, sickness prevented some of our family from coming, which was disappointing. We'll have to use it as an excuse to get together sometime soon.
Walter and Henry were more than willimg to open a few gifts early.
Transformer Star Wars toys were a big hit...
...and a great challenge for four adults!
With Mama Bakkel - smiles...
...And more serious looks.
Reading Luke 2
Listening with Mimi Megan
They were thrilled with these Lego Star Wars Dictionaries from Mama Bakkel.
They have spent hours looking through these.
Emotions were running high for Henry - it was the year of Lego Star Wars gifts.
They've created lots of pool parties in the tub with this...
And Walter's long-awaited cap gun.
Super cute Angry Birds hats
Everybody enjoyed the fabulous head "massager"...
...including Gus.
Grandma opening presents.
Now he just needs some guitar lessons and he'll be able to play along at the 80's dance parties we have every night in our family room.
Protecting Mimi Erin with his pistol.
We were able to spend some time with Mama Bakkel on Christmas Day before hoping in the car and driving back to Gramps' and Gram's.
We unpacked the cars and then Grandma put on an amazing waffle Christmas dinner.
Once again it was present time.
The Mimis must have heard him asking for this every time we went to Target!
No one will mess with him now that he has a pistol and a dual light saber. Honestly, this thing is twice his height!
More Star Wars fun!
Comfy Twins sweatshirts
Bobba Fett alarm clocks: The buttons must be irresistible because occasionally we hear, "beep beep beep beep" at 2 a.m.!
A special treat - Peppermint Bark
Now we can start a band...
The night was more eventful than we hoped for - after opening up Christmas stockings and eating some candy we put the boys to bed...Henry was up coughing most of the night and when he finally fell asleep, Walter threw up in bed. We finally got the kids back in bed around 3:30 a.m. I'm guessing that each Christmas I will probably remember sleeping on the bathroom floor with Walter in 2012. Thankfully, the boys were better the next morning, so we were able to drive home...where they opened their gifts. We skipped doing our own family dinner because we were all exhausted!
These last two pictures pretty much confirm that my quest for a good Christmas picture will continue another year. If you don't believe me, just wait and see the pictures I took when we celebrated with Nate's family! :)
In all seriousness, the gifts and delicious food are fun, but each Christmas we remember the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gift of Salvation we can receive through Him.
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