Christmas Morning

I love Christmas being on a Sunday.  It's so nice to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with Christ in the Center and what a better way then going to Church.  We told the kids we were not going to Open ANY presents  until after Church.  Brooklyn tried to compromise  saying she would just look at her stocking.  Brooklyn, made a good argument.  Aunt Britany was totally on her side.   But No Sneak Peaks!! .Jeremy got up and made Biscuits and Gravy Yummy!  The kids got ready for Church I didn't take a picture.  HUMMM..  We went to Church and had a wonderful Christmas Program.  WE loved singing all the Christmas Hymns and all the beautiful talks it truly was awesome.  It was fun seeing all our friends too and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.  When we got home everyone changed *Quickly* into their PJ's and we started opening our presents.

Chandler's Face was like this all morning long.  He looks so big in this picture. :-( My baby is getting so big.

So if he wasn't smiling from ear to ear he had this face. I love it. So excited!!!

Yes!!!  Just what he wanted Hot Wheels bet that wall addition.  AWESOME.  Christmas is so fun!!

Brooklyn wanted a Doughnut maker so badly.  It's so fun to watch the kids expressions and excitement as they open their gifts.

Brooklyn did this funny tongue thing as she opened her gifts.  It's super cute.

Here is that cute tongue thing again.  I really Love her.

Kayden had the biggest smile the whole time.  Christmas through your kids eyes is MAGIC.

Kayden couldn't open this gift.  Too Much Tape!!!

I love to see the expressions on their faces. 

This year Jeremy and I did sentimental gifts.  It was awesome.  Jeremy wrote me a special sweet letter about Hope. 

He gave me the Willow Tree Angel of Hope statue.  I love it!! 

Here is Jeremy opening up his gift.

I had a lot of fun putting Jer's sentimental gift together. I got a deck of cards with Golfing stuff of course. Then wrote 52 reasons why I love him.  Here is Jeremy laughing at one of them.  Awesome!!!

This year with our new family economy the kids earned and bough their own gifts.  It was so fun to watch them save their money and purchase their own gifts for each other.  It was defiantly a new experience.  The had a different kind of excitement Couldn't wait for you to open up the gift they saved and picked out especially for you.  Very cool!!! 

Awee, We love these two!!!

Everyone needs a Big Brother!!!

Here is the big present.  The kids did not know what The Spirit of Santa got them.I just kept telling them they were going to LOVE it.  So here they are opening their gift.  *Note Brooklyn and her cute tongue.*

Here again is Chandler Super cute face,  Brooklyn so excited and Kayden is saying What is it???? He was having issues opening it.  Darn tape!

This was the best part.  The kids trying to get into their MP3 player I love the faces.  Jer and I were rolling on the floor laughing.  They were so determined to open them.  Not once did they ask for sciccors or a knife or help.  Nothing!!  Oh these pictures crack me up.

Chandler so determined to open the package.  Giggles

Brooklyn trying so hard...

Success finally got them open.  This is what the kids did for the next 15 minutes.  We were not finished opening Christmas and the kids could have stopped and been totally and completely happy.

Brooklyn Checking out all the songs on her Mp3 player.  Mom we can download books too.  Yes, indeed we can.

Kayden checking out what was on his Mp3 player.

Then we were entertained

With Singing

And Dancing

And singing and dancing.  The kids kept saying this is the Best Christmas EVER!!!  Indeed, this was an awesome Christmas.

This is the picture I texted all our family with the kids saying Merry Christmas We love you.
We are saying the same to you.  Merry Christmas!!!  We hope you guys had a wonderful Christ Centered day.
We do Love you all and hope you have a Happy New Year.

Christmas Eve

We love our Christmas Eve Traditions. This year we didn't have anyone over,  It was just our little family.  We decided we were going to try a new dinner.  We had Monterey Chicken, Potato's, Corn & Peas and some rolls. We then  dipped some pretzels in white chocolate and sprinkled them some with crushed candy canes and some with  red and green sugar,  We drove around and looked at some lights around town.  Then we came home to start some of our traditions.  It was kind of late so we didn't do  all our traditions. But one tradition we couldn't skip was  the first Present of  the year.
Every year we open a gift for Jesus. This gift is unique in the sense that we gave this gift to Jesus Last Christmas Eve. We all gather around and open that special little box.  Inside that box has a piece of paper from everyone that was at our home last Christmas Eve. On those pieces of paper we wrote one thing we would do for Jesus that year.  We all gather around and read those papers and talk about what we wrote and what we did for Jesus. Then we write our new gift for Jesus and put it back in the special box and put it away until next year. It's a fun way to celebrate Christmas, since Christ's Birth is the reason we Celebrate Christmas.

Another Tradition we couldn't miss was the opening of New PJ'S Here is Chandler opening his present.

Chandler loved his Blue Foot Ball PJ'S

Kayden was next to open his gift.

Rock on!!!  I love this face.  Kayden really is a "Rock Star"

It's Brooklyn's Turn.

Look Mom, it has a monkey.  Brooklyn, is still obsessed over any animal.

Jeremy didn't want to match this year.  So I got a cute pink and black pair.

Jer is so excited.  Just what he wanted... 

Taking our picture was a little tricky.  Normally we have another family with us so it's easy to get a picture.  But this year was a challenge.  Jeremy figured out that our camera has a timer.  Who Knew?  Anyway, he sent the timer but trying to get it all to work and not catch Jeremy running or the kids not smiling or whatever was defiantly a challenge.  But we did it. This one turned out very nice.   Happy Christmas Eve Everyone!!!.

Chan Finally lost his first tooth!

I really thought Chandler was going to be "7" before he lost his first tooth.  But tonight Dec 24th at 5:15pm he finally lost his first tooth.  Kayden and he were wrestling and it came out. So Cool!!!

One Super Happy Boy!!

Look at my Tooth.  AWESOME!!

Christmas Party @ The Gumps

The Gump's had us over for a fun Station Christmas party. The Air Force Recruiter joined us as well.We had yummy snacks and a fun white elephant gift exchange.  However, I didnt' get any pictures of the presents. :-( We played some games.  I think the biggest hit was Guitar Hero. 

Nicole & Kyle Brenay

Amanda & Matt Gump

Spencer & Nicki Tosi

Nicole & Tina.  (Such a lovely face, I was totally laughing)

The three Recruiter's wives.  Nicole, Amanda, and Tina.

  We love a great party and don't forget the party food!!!

The Four Recruiters jamming to Rock Band
SSG Brenay, Ssgt Tosi, SFC Bastian, SFC Gump

Nicole, is serenading all of us with her beautiful voice.  I however, didn't know half the songs. :-(

This is an awesome picture of the guys.  Love it. 
Thanks for the Christmas Party Gumps.

Future Soldier Holdiay Party

This year the recruiters had their Christmas party at the local VFW(Veteran's of Foreign affairs). They started out with a little training.
SSG Brenay did the training.

Nicole, and I did the Food.  OH wait, I think SFC Gump brought the doughnuts. Yummy!!!

Everyone brought a white elephant gift.

PVT Schreiner

PVT Pace

PVT Talavera and her Husband

 

PVT Hodges

PVT Smith

PVT Toften

Our Group Picture.
Merry Christmas and HOOAH!!!