Christmas Day pictures

(please take note: some children slow down long enough for their photo to be taken.  others do not.  years from now when the little boys look back on these posts and wonder why so few pictures of them, well, I will not take the blame!)

Both sets of Grandparents contributed large piles of presents to our Christmas morning loot :) We were able to FaceTime with each of them and bless them with a bit of our chaos - ha!

There was a good deal of hockey-related gifts, including sticks for Matt and Isaac and John Paul, and a first set of roller blades for Luke.

Oh the crafts - these girls could open a small shop!  so fun

He realized this summer that he loves checkers.  Chess too.  Best to have several options :)

I thought this bed-top writing/art desk would be perfect for my oldest daughter.  She agreed.

A new water bottle.  This boy is motivated to explore, examine, take-apart, discover, dismantle.  His objects of interest (victims?!?!) often require some repair work.  This fall he did a little "research" into "What makes his leak proof water bottle leak proof".  After a good bit of work, his water bottle was no longer leak proof.  sigh.  {and also, I'm so curious to see where this leads him in life... he's definitely a figure-out-er.  thankful for friends that remind me that one day he won't just take apart, he will be able to put it back together!}

Lego. Star Wars.  a winning combination

more lego, more Star Wars.

outside for some pre-lunch hockey

homemade. of course.

bought the girls this puzzle - didn't realize how much I loved puzzles!  this was a fun treat and reminded me of holidays with Grandma Ruth when I would retreat from the crowd and just enjoy a puzzle and a quiet visit with another puzzle-fan.

mini-concert.  both girls played some of their favorite Christmas tunes. John Paul belts out Hark the Herald loud enough that he could lead an auditorium full of carolers with no mic :)

our Christmas lunch table

and a family shot by the tree

a gift to celebrate with these precious people.

Merry Christmas!