There's no business like SNOW business

Is there anything better than playing in the snow.  

Seriously though, running around, making snow angels, making snowmen, throwing snow balls, and building snow forts are such fun things to do.   That is one of the perks of winter that I LOVE!

 And then of course a nice cup of hot chocolate to top off the fun time.  

 JJ was a trooper.  He was determined to finish his snow fort.  He stayed out for a while past us girls.  

 We did help for a bit though.

 Ellie had so much fun but was frozen by the time we came in.  She snuggled up on the couch enjoying our new blanket we got for Christmas.  

 Dad came out and helped JJ for a bit.  They actually got a lot done.  

Nothing better than a snow day.

Christmas with Jeron's Family

 Jeron's mom always has a big dinner for us.  This year we got there just in time to chow down.  It was really good.  They we all headed downstairs to open gifts and hang out.  The kids all got spoiled.  It was a lot of fun.  I left my camera at my parents house so I only have phone pics.  I loved this one though.  My teenage nieces spend their Christmastexting.  It made me laugh to see them all texting.  

 Brock got Elsie a make-up kit.  She got fake nails and loved them.  She got all sorts of stuff in the kit and was thrilled.  

 I was glad that we got one pic together.  I love this man of mine.

 Grandma B made her way downstairs for a bit.  It is so great for the kids to get to know her.  Elsie just adores her.  All my kids do but mostly Elsie.  I wish Mac had still been there for the pic but they left early.

 So this phone stuff is not a generation thing.  I laughed so hard when I took this picture.  Grandpa is busted.

 I guess getting up at 5:30 was a little more then this lady could handle.  I love this little lady.

 With the all the Grandparents

The kids got a lot of fun things.  Elsie got a barbie car, Ellie a barbie horse, JJ a gift card to Amazon, and Emma a lot of books.  They were all thrilled.  It is weird to think 2012 Christmas is over.  It is now just a memory.  A good memory.  Time goes by too fast.

Christmas with the Meads

 Christmas morning is spent with the Meads family.  We finish our festivities and head up there.  It is tradition for my parents to make us breakfast and we have the same thing every year.  This year Jeron and I toyed with switching to the evening so we could play games and do more.  I got a text from Michael saying he was fine with that if we still had breakfast.  It has been our tradition all my life to eat together and I knew we had to be there in the morning.  I am glad that is what we did.  I love that we have the same exact breakfast that I had when I was a kid. Eggs, bacon, blueberry muffins, orange rolls(addition in the last couple of years) and orange juice.  We all love it.  It just reminds us all of Christmas.  

I am glad to say that I got a pic of JJ since I missed him this morning.  He has his ear buds in and is wearing his new hoodie.

 WOW!  Picture overload of Emry's first Christmas.  Geesh!  I only got two.  Fifth child always gets the bum end of things.  

 We sure love our cousins.  It was awesome having Lucy and Ben here this year  We love the Vogel family so much and miss them when they aren't here.

 Sweet Cousins

 Silly Ben

This year papa made the three little girls their craddles.  They turned out so amazing.  Emma got hers years ago (the white one), and now he had made Ellie (red), Elsie (pink), and Lucy (blue) theirs.  I love they way they turned out.  These girls are pretty darn lucky.  Mama made the darling bedding in them. They are so pretty.  I think maybe I want one for me.

 They newlyweds first Christmas married.

 Me and my daddy.

 Mama and Emma getting their snuggle on.

David and Kassey. and their puppies.   Love them. 

We were all spoiled like always.   My parents always give us too much.  It is very nice of them.  JJ got a gift card to Amazon(perfect for him) and Emma got a scooter which she needed so badly.  Emry got a quite book.  It is really cute.   It was a fun day and I always hate when it is over.  This year more than most though.  I knew when we left we wouldn't see the Vogels again since they were heading home tomorrow.  I HATE that part.  HATE it.  It makes it so hard to even leave.  I just wish we could be together easier.

Merry Christmas

This morning came way too soon.  It was 5:30am.  Emma was just too excited to wait any longer.  She even took it upon herself to wake the littles.  I haven't been this reluctant to get up ever on Christmas morning.  It took her about 20 minutes to get her tired parents up.  Once we did get up we read about Christ, read Luke II and sang Joy to the World.  Then the sweet kiddos lined up and headed into the family room.  

First, Elsie did the honors of placing baby Jesus in the manger.

Then it was time to see the magic!!

And this is what they saw...

I will have to admit with things toned down this year I was  bit worried that the kids would feel let down.  Come to find out they were thrilled.  The squeals were just as loud and just as excited as years past.

It was Poppins first Christmas and she didn't know what to think.  

Poor thing got woken up so early.

Elsie was so excited to get her roller blades from Santa.

This year we gave them three presents.  Something  needful, something that is meaningful,  and something that is joyful.

We labeled each gift.  I was so excited for Emma to get her meaningful.  Back in August we took a trip to the cabin.  While we were there Emma lost a picture that she drew.  She used it as a bookmark and had had for a long time.  It was a really pretty picture and I was so sad she lost it.  While I was cleaning up the cabin I found the picture.  I decided not to tell her and kept it for all these months.  Jeron and I blew it up and put it on a canvas for her.  I was so excited to see her open it.  We also gave her the original back.  She loved it.  

Poor Ellie and JJ didn't get a Christmas morining picture.  I blame it on how tired I was.  JJ got a ski pass and Ellie got Barbie's  

We had a wonderful morning. 

 Merry Christmas Everyone.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days of the year.  It is the day we spend with just our family.  We had a kink in the system this year.  Daddy was SICK!  He was so sick.  This really was sad for all of us because he literally spent the entire day in bed.  We tried to make the best of it but we sure did miss him.

Our first thing was sugar cookies.  We had to make some for Santa.  This takes a bit of time so without Jeron's help I was getting nervous we wouldn't fit it all in. Emma was a big help though.  And JJ helped out with Emry. 

 Ellie is such a doll.

 My awesome helper

 JJ has a ton of ideas always, when we make cookies.

 Elsie was all over the place.  She would run in the kitchen, steal some dough and then run out.

 Since Jeron was not eating with us I let the kids pick what they wanted for dinner.  They picked homemade pizza.  We made him look like Santa...kind of.

Dad was able to come out after we ate and lay on the couch while we opened our Christmas jammies.

We started a new show for our family this year.  We watched A Christmas Carol.  The kids loved it.  

Emry was so excited to get her first set of jammies.

Elsie getting her twinner jammies with Emry.  I am so excited about these.

Emma getting her awesome jammies.

Ellie gets to be twinners with Emma

JJ is thrilled with his new duds.

Can I get a drum roll please...

The anticipation is almost to much!

JJ's new christmas pj's

Emma in her cute bunny jammies

Ellie making her jammies look good.

I told you they were darlig.  

Seriously look at that skirt.

They screamed Elsie when I found them.

Last, but certainly not least

Princess Poppins is all set for Christmas night.

Look at her sitting all by herself.

Oh my goodness I could eat her.

The Snowpack looking like they are ready for Santa to come tonight.

I am crazy nuts about tradition.

Even when daddy is sick we still have to fit it all in. 

 For as long as we have been doing Christmas Eve as the Snowpack we have watched Luke II.  We turn the volume off and play Amy Grants Breath of Heaven.  They go perfectly together.  It reminds of  what happened so long ago, and what is really important about Christmas.  It sets the perfect tone. 

 One of the most favorite moments is when we all sit down and read

 Twas the Night Before Christmas.

After I read the story to them, they scurry off to brush their teeth.  While their teeth are being brushed usually there is a jingle bell that goes off letting us know that Santa is getting close. 

We then go into hyper fast mode and everyone hurries off to bed.  They all sleep in the same room.  This year too cool snowboy opted out of this tradition.  The girls still did it. 

Jeron and I set up our part of Christmas.  This always takes so long.  I wrapped 2/3 of the presents before hand.  Good thing!  With Mr. Snow out of commission I was left with the bulk responsibility of it all. JJ ended up staying a for a bit longer than normal so he helped me frost the cookies.  We were able to make Santa a plate.  We watched Christmas Vacation.  He then went to bed.  Jeron and I watched A Christmas Story, and Elf.  We finally went to bed at 3:00am.  I really missed Jeron's help tonight.  He really does a lot of work.  I realized this while working my butt off tonight.

  

Now is the time for the magic to happen!