CHRISTMAS!!!

Finally Christmas is here and we can all just relax, right?

Family pic on Christmas Eve after church
As we have done for a few years, now, Nick and I hosted my side of the family for Christmas Eve dinner.  This year, just my parents and Grandmas Jeanne attended, but I'm always so glad they can come up to join us.  All were healthy for a couple days and the kids are always so excited to celebrate!

Gracie and Owen in their crazy poses for Christmas.

Opening their first presents on Christmas Eve.  Pajamas and slippers of course!

They also got their very own Christmas trees from us this year.  We bought two of them, and of course, one did not work when we put it together. So, Gracie was in tears because her tree was broken and she didn't have one for Christmas Eve.  Owen was nice enough to share for the night, but there was still a large amount of disappointment.  

So...Thank goodness Santa came!  The kids tracked Santa's route all of Christmas Eve.  They opted to do this instead of watching their traditional movie on Christmas Eve this year.  So, it was actually an earlier night than it has been in the past.  

Owen with his gifts from Santa

I believe this is a snapshot of what may be to come with Gracie...along with all the sass.

We made the trip down to Grandma Deb's and Grandpa Norm's for Christmas day.  All the family was there and the cousins all got to spend some quality time together.  Oddly enough, it was almost 50 degrees, so they all played hide and seek in the barn and took walks around the pond.  Crazy!

Owen and Gracie with their loot.

Gracie and Ryleigh a midst all the chaos

Ryleigh and Owen playing on the swings

Nick decided to take a ride on one of the minis.

Gracie and Owen on a walk around the pond. Yep, sweatshirts and jackets.

After a fun afternoon at Grandma Deb's, we headed over to Grimes to see my side of the family.  We had a nice dinner with Grandma Jeanne, my parents, and Chad and Annie.

A gift from Grandma Kate

Owen loves his new night vision glasses.

We took a couple days to unwind and clean up the holiday mess.  I think the toys have been properly opened and distributed throughout our house, now.  It's amazing the amount of stuff we can acquire.  Gracie has also moved into Owen's room.  He exchanged his twin bed for a bunk/loft from his uncle Tony.  Gracie believes that since there are two beds in his room, now, one must be for her.  She has officially named her (old) room the guest bedroom.  She wanted to move all of her clothes into Owen's room, too, but I told that probably was not the best idea.  They both love the bed and for now, it works.  I'm sure Gracie will eventually want her own space again.  I also had to remind her that Owen keeps his room relatively clean and if she wants to share with him, she has to do the same.  (Her room is usually a disaster.)  She reluctantly agreed to this for the time being.

This past weekend, there was a pizza party for the youth wrestling program.  Nick was sick, so I found myself helping to get it going.  They kids all had pizza and played games in the wrestling room afterwards.  It was a fun afternoon for all.

Brayden and Gracie strategizing during an intense game of dodgeball.  Gracie is actually pretty aggressive and can throw the ball.

While Owen refused to play any of the games, he and his friend Bode wrestled off to the side for part of the time.  

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