Every Night Live!: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

I will start off with our Christmas card for you that did not get one, I am sorry!

Jared designed it, he does so great!!
The boys were doing ring around the rosey

The past couple days were much needed after our trip we really missed the boys and couldn't wait to spend the past days with them! We were excited to have Christmas with Jared's side in Omaha and watch the boys smile from ear to ear as they opened ALL their presents, way too many again. We had decided that we would have the boys open their presents from us once we got back home. With Jared's family busy schedule we didn't really know when we would be opening gifts so it was sort of all over the place. So we started on Dec. 24 for the older kids and some of the adults! The little ones (Landon, Tristan, Ella) were in bed!

This is not all of the gifts...CRAZY HUH!!!

A little story, they all love to read!

Hannah looking a little tired

silly Allie and her Monster High dolls

Braeden looking so excited we can hardly control him

I thought this was a great picture of Jared and his mommy:), LOVE HER!!!

Brandon(Jared's brother) and me, I think I scared him

Jared must have wrapped this one, notice the box after you get over looking at Rich's silly face

My theme was monogram things-Tara's Blanket

another one of Jared's "special" wrappings

Amy's big bag she could hardly see over it

The kids got Rich and Janet a Kerig machine, they were very excited(Rich is not sure what it is yet, but he will figure it out in a few days)!

December 25, 2012-MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I absolutely love this time of year I feel it is just so magical and has nothing to do with all the presents! I feel people are happier, Jesus is born and he sacrificed his own life for us. We went to church as a whole family today, which I LOVE to do all Jared's family went to his church he grew up in, it was perfect, well almost I will explain. All the kids walked up to give money and on the way back a little boy grabbed little Ella's pigtails, she was so sad:(. I felt bad for her but felt so bad for the parents of the little boy, he didn't know better. He had downs syndrome. After church the mom came over and apologized and felt so bad, if made me cry. Anyways we had been talking to the boys about "baby Jesus" and how it was his birthday and that when he got older he died for us. So all day they would say baby Jesus? and ask where he was, it was so cute. After mass was over we went to the front of the church and showed the boys baby Jesus and the Nativity scene with all the animals. They loved it they wanted to hold the "baby Jesus" and the animals and DID NOT want to leave. When we were leaving they would put there hands in the air and say, baby Jesus? Like where is baby Jesus. I hope I can continue teach them about the true reason for the season. After church it was time for more presents and some lunch/snacks. Some were not ready for presents so the boys ended up going down for a nap and missed most of opening gifts:(. They were tired boys had to wake up Tristan to go out to Jared's aunt and uncles(Den and Cathy) for the afternoon/evening. We decided we would leave early for boys to open more gifts. Since we don't live in Omaha we don't see many of his cousin much anymore so we always have a good time!

Santa found Grandma and Grandpa's house

They were so excited for their stockings!!

Landon above, Tristan below both loved the tractors

Tristan wanted to open the bubble wrapped gift(Daddy's wrapping), he found one of his gifts that was not wrapped:)

Landon found a gift not wrapped for him too

MORE gifts, they helped mommy open hers from daddy(we were not exchanging, god thing I had back ups at home)

Koda wondering were her gifts are

Tristan wanting to play with the bubble wrap

Trying to stop them from opening gifts...off to grandma's kitchen for some fun or making a mess for grandma

Our attempt for a kids pictures, I think we did pretty good (notice Koda wanted in it too-funny how she is sitting so nice, makes me laugh)

Uncle Brandon had a fun game to ride on the bubble wrap box

Family picture

What a ham, she is always ready to smile for the camera, LOVE IT!

Hannah got fake glasses and I think that was her favorite gift and oh so cute. Wait til she gets older and really has to have glasses or contacts then she won't want them.

Landon just woke up from nap, still tired

Landon a little scared, Santa just walked in to visit

Tristan not sure what to think, Jax in the background a little scared as well

Boys wouldn't take their eyes off Santa

what a mean mommy I made Tristan go up and get his gift from Santa, dear lord T had a strong grip on mommy

Landon's turn, didn't go much better can't see his face but he cried too

Mommy can do it...for you who knew me a a child the joke was always as I grew up that Jill was afraid of Santa until she was 14, now I think 14 is an extreme but I did cry for a really long time, maybe 10? Funny, sort of wierd thing is sometimes when I see Santa I still get a little nervous in my stomach, makes me laugh but it is true.