Our First Christmas

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone already.  The season went by so fast this year.

Nick and I had a really great first Christmas being married, and we all had a great first Christmas as a family!  We had the girls Christmas Eve.  We decided with their mom that we are going to switch off each year.  So, this year, they stayed with us Christmas Eve and their mom Christmas night.  Next year will be vice versa and switch each year.  I am excited about it!

So, Christmas Eve, we had lunch with Nonnie and Granddad.  Nick and Granddad fried a turkey, and we had lots of great sides to go with it.  We opened gifts and had a really great time.  Nonnie and Granddad were WAY too kind to us this year.  We are so thankful for everything we received!

Abbey got a camera.  She was so surprised b/c Nick and I told her we weren't getting her one this year.  HOWEVER, we didn't say that Nonnie and Granddad weren't!  It was great seeing her surprised.

Libby and Bryn got lots of clothes for their American Dolls.  They were on CLOUD 9.

Loving it

One of Nonnie's gifts was an album of our wedding pics.

Granddad opening his clothes

They got Nick and me backpacks!  We've been wanting a hobby together and seeing he rides a bike (and I don't), and I run (and he doesn't)--- hiking/camping is the perfect thing!

We went home after lunch to get ready for Santa.  The girls wrote notes to him while I got the cookies ready.  We figured since we'd be gone late to Doc and GiGi's we should prob prepare beforehand.

Notice Bryn finger spacing like they do in school.  Love it.

We headed to church for the Christmas Eve service with Doc, GiGi and the entire crew.  I didn't get a single pic of us dressed in our Christmas outfits together.  Better luck next year!

After church, we headed to Doc and GiGi's for another WONDERFUL meal and more gift giving.

My entire family spoiled my new additional family to pieces.  They have welcomed them as they've been with us for years, and I'm so thankful for that.  And my new additional family has done the same.  It makes me very happy!  You don't get that with all blended families, so I'm very thankful!

Doc and GiGi's tree

The girls passed out gifts to everyone.

They love their Uncle Lucas!

GiGi had stockings made for all of the girls and Nick.

Saw these bags in the mall.  Had to get one for her.

Doc upgraded from a very tiny flip phone to the new iphone.... One LARGE step for man!  And two days later.... I had a facebook friend request from him!

Up WAY passed her bedtime.

New blankets

We got home and got the girls to bed.  They slept in our bed, and we slept on a blow up mattress.  Otherwise, they would have come out of their rooms early, and we would have been opening at 2:30am.  hehe  It was fun having a slumber party.

Santa left footprints of ashes.  Nick's going to have to have a talk with him about that next year!  ;)

Heading out to see if Santa came!

Her other most requested item--- a keyboard

Loving her jeans.  And check out the left corner of the pic-- love it.  They were pretty excited.

It was a great Christmas, and we had a wonderful time with family!