Christmas 2016

We have had a wonderful quiet Christmas here in Dallas, Texas. 

Our vacation isn't over yet and there is still lots more to blog about, but here is our Christmas Eve and Christmas. 

It was joyous. 

We slowly woke up and played the morning of Christmas Eve. June was already bouncing off the walls for Christmas so we thought we would leave the house for a bit. 

We knew with Christmas we wouldn't make it out to our house being built for a bit so we decided to go out there Christmas Eve. 

PLUMBING!! It's so exciting going out each week and seeing progress being made! This is real! It's totally happening!! 

After playing out at the house for a bit we came home and got our cooking on. We spent most of our afternoon in the kitchen getting everything ready for Christmas Eve dinner. 

We had snacks and treats out all day, so basically the kids didn't leave the kitchen all day while we cooked. I feel like all we have done is constantly eaten. So much food and it's still going on! 

Cracker in one hand, cookie in the other. Kate too was taking full advantage of all the food!

Owen and Kate kept each other entertained most of the day. 

He just makes her laugh so hard! 

Our Christmas Eve dinner. It's tradition for us to eat by candle light, but when you have small children you have to eat a bit earlier in the day. Haha but we still had our candles! We had all the turkey and trimmings we could ask for! It was just our little family but you would think we were feeding 50 people. Don't worry, we ate the majority of it. 

By the time dinner was eaten and cleaned up it was time to get our Christmas Eve festivities going.

We had church the next day so we bathed the kids and got ready to open our pajamas. 

Owen was so funny how he was laying on the couch just in his undies! The picture is a bit blurry because I was laughing so hard. 

We were discussing who should open first and before we could figure out who, Kate dove right in. She got her box opened and jimmies pulled out before another word could be said. 

Christmas Pajamas 2016

We did our usual Christmas Eve traditions of reading Luke 2, watching the Nativity and discussing more about the reason we celebrate Christmas. 

After we had a bit of time, so we watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". It was the kids favorite Christmas movie this year. 

It was then time to get ready for Santa to come and go to bed.

We sprinkled our reindeer food out on the lawn. Glitter and Oatmeal are good for reindeer right!? 

Kate and Owen went to sleep pretty well. June had a bit of a harder time falling asleep, jus too much excitement, so we let her stay up a bit later. 

Dan and June were tracking Santa. 

We FINALLY got all the kids to bed and asleep. It was then time for Santa to come. 

Dan and I setting up our Christmas. 

One last picture before we could finally go to bed. A lot to set up for three little ones but it is so much fun and I wouldn't have it any other way. I truly love it. 

The next morning we just decided to see how long the kids would take to wake up. I woke up at 6am to start getting ready for 9am church and the kids weren't too far behind. Everyone was up around 6:30am. 

It was time to go walk out and see what Santa brought us. 

The kids were so excited! Owen was really excited what June got that he didn't even realize that he had gifts from Santa. 

Kate got a rocking' Beep Bop Toy which sings and the critters tip over. 

Owen got a Stinky Garbage Truck and "All those shapes" as Owen liked to tell people. 

June got a kitchen fro her American Girl dolls. That one was "fun" for Santa to set up! SO MANY LITTLE PEICES! 

Honestly, the timing was perfect for looking at all the things Santa brought and then getting ready for church. We never felt rushed which was a relief. I was worried about that! 

Kate gets a picture on her own because it's her first Christmas and her new little Christmas dress. 

All the kids in their Christmas clothes. Owen had a snowflake vest but he refused to put it on. 

Church was actually quite wonderful. We had a great Christmas program. June sang with the Primary and she said that it was her favorite part of the whole day. I was able to sing two songs. "Silent Night" and "In a Bleak Mid-Winter". It was great and I loved being able to participate in the program. 

When we came home, we all got back into our pajamas and got ready to open presents. 

Everyone helped sort gifts 

Kate could not keep her little hands off her presents. She was tearing into them and little Miss follow the rules June was getting quite upset with her. 

I helped Kate unwrap all her gifts. 

It's a good thing we waited to open gifts after church because Owen was taking his sweet time! 

We told Owen to point to his present that he got from Grandma and Grandpa Lancaster. He threw it on the ground and pointed so sadly. Hahaha He really really loves it though and spent most of his Christmas in that tent with all his toys. 

Kate got a care bear from our little cousin Reese. 

She really wanted to share with Ranger 

My other Sister sent June a gift and that thing was TAPED!! June wanted no help with her gifts. It took her so long to get it open. 

It was worth it though. Probably her favorite gift was this fairy garden. We had to do it right after opening gifts. 

It was incredibly warm on Christmas day. So we went out and played for a bit. Owen got a transforming remote control Blaze car from my parents. He loves it and was so happy since his other one had crashed one too many times! He loves crashing! 

Thanks Mich for the little animals! They are right up Kate's alley and that little smile behind the pacifier melts me. 

All the parts that June painted dried so later that day we were able to plant all the seeds in her fairy garden. 

The final product. Now we wait and watch them grow. 

We ate leftovers, played and played and played until we were all worn out from the excitement of the day and all headed to bed early. 

Whats so great is we have had over a week of having daddy home with us and the fun is still going! 

Christmas time is the best!!