Birthday & Christmas!

My parents came Sunday night and it was fun to have them to celebrate my birthday the next day! Dan had to go into work for a couple of hours so we went and played racquetball for a while and then came home and got ready. 

We had a babysitter for a couple of hours so Dan, myself and my parents all went out for lunch. 

We then came home and opened presents and had cake! No hair on fire this time!

We then spent the rest of the day at Six Flags. It was pretty packed but we still got to do all our favorite rides and the kids had a blast!

Birthday fun 

We even got to experience sledding!

Kate was tall enough to ride the Mini Mine Cart roller coaster! Her very first roller coaster and she loved it! She had her hands up majority of the time!! I hope she's a roller coaster lover like me, because as of right now no one in this family likes to ride them! Haha 

Of course it's not a trip to Six Flags without playing some games 

That night we got home, got kids to bed and my parents and us Lancaster's played Pinochle. 

The next morning was Christmas Eve and the excitement was in the air! We got dinner started and then the day was so nice so we went for a walk around the neighborhood! My Dad woke up and placed Christmas items throughout the walking paths and had the kids go on a scavenger hunt! My kids were in heaven! 

Getting ready for Christmas dinner! Prime Rib and all the fixings. Including our favorite things like Mac and Cheese, Peanut Butter and apples and mushrooms. 

After we downed all the food, got everything cleaned up and settled we did our big goodbye to P.J. our elf and we got ready for our Christmas Eve Traditions.

Including Dan reading Luke 2 from the bible. 

The kids and Nana and Papa acting out the Nativity! 

It then was time to open up pajamas and get ready for bed.

Lots of snuggly and warm pajamas plus new slippers for everyone! 

Then after we were all in our pajamas we headed out to the front yard and sprinkled our Reindeer food. Getting ready for Santa to come visit!

The kids had a big sleep over upstairs in Owen's room and while we waited for the kids to finally fall asleep, we played games and hung out. 

Then it was time to set everything up! Playing Santa is the very best!! 

The morning of was crazy! The kids were bouncing off the walls! All except Kate. She was not happy to have been woken up, but once she realized what was happening she sprang to life. 

We have a fun tradition to have lotto tickets in our stockings. I won $20 bucks which then led to us winning another $100!! It was awesome! 

We snuck a few surprises in my parents stocking this year and lotto tickets were one of those things. 

Owen got a fossil finder and he was so adorable in his little goggles!

Nana and June putting together their Christmas Lego's! 

We put so many puzzles together this Christmas! It was a lot of fun! 

Christmas morning chaos! I love it all! I love the crazy, the magic, the out pouring of love. We are so blessed to have all we do. We try to not take it for granted and we want our kids to know how lucky and fortunate they are, but at the same time they are such good kids and deserve to be spoiled sometimes! Christmas is just one of those moments!

Then my parents went home the next day and just like that Christmas was over! It always goes too fast but such fun memories and I try soaking it all in. I know I don't get many of these magic years with my children so I'm making sure to make every memory count and to try and have a magical Christmas!