Monday, December 30, 2013

Christmas 2013

It's the last week of the year!  So crazy!  Tomorrow is the last Tuesday so it will be 10 Things to Smile About.  Also, you have until Friday to recap your year with us with the Review Extravaganza 2013.

Today I am going to share about Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days.  Eric was able to get home early and we made our gingerbread houses.
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Lucas decided to forgo the kit and design his own house.  We bought the Wilton kits and while the frosting was very thick and strong, it was also nearly impossible to squeeze from the bags they provided and even ripped a hole through one.  In the end we managed to get cute houses anyway.
gingerbread
Top to bottom: Alex, Eric's, Ryder's, Every body's, Mine, Lucas
Christmas Eve, Eric read the Christmas story while the kids acted it out.  Lucas was Joseph, Alex was Mary, I was a shepherd, and Ryder was a wise man.
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It is never anything fancy but perfect for helping us remember the true meaning of the season.

Then the kids open their Christmas Eve pajamas.  Ryder was not that impressed and was ready to dive into the some of the other presents under the tree.
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They ask to pose like this every year
We finished off the night with some egg nog.
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Then I made Alex pose for me for a bunch of pictures

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Christmas

Christmas morning Lucas and Alex were in our room at 6:00 AM on the dot.  They woke us up asking when they could wake Ryder up.  Finally thanks to all their noise and excitement Ryder wandered into our room about 6:20.   Eric and I went downstairs first to get the Christmas lights on and cameras ready and then the fun began.
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From Santa: Ryder got a Lego train set, Alex got Barbies and Barbie Clothes, and Lucas got a Lego set.

Eric handed out all the presents one at a time.  Alex liked to "faint" after opening each present and even got Ryder to do it a few times (and me-as seen in the video).  Lucas ended up with his nose in his optical illusions book he got between presents and Ryder was always very meticulous and neat while opening his presents.
morning

The highlight for me was surprising Eric with Phillips Hue, I used cash from a recent photo shoot to pay for part of it, so even though he saw that there was a purchase at the Apple store, he had no idea it was that as it wasn't the right amount.

Also another huge highlight was my big present- the Canon 5D Mark iii that I have been wishing and hoping for.  I was totally shocked and so happy to actually get it.

presents
The kids with all their loot
Here is all the action in a fun little video I made

What was your favorite part about Christmas?  Come back tomorrow for 10 Things to Smile About
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14 comments:

  1. RachelDecember 30, 2013 at 7:06 AM

    Em! This post was so fun! Cutest pictures, and that video was the best! I loved being a part of your Christmas morning. Ethan and I giggled good when Alex fainted. She is so dramatic, it seems like that would make the morning so much fun! Looks like you guys made out like bandits! Merry Christmas. xoxoxo

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    1. EmmyDecember 30, 2013 at 8:11 PM

      Yes she is nothing short of dramatic. It was so funny how she kept trying to get Ryder to faint all the time too. It was a great Christmas.

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  2. Sarah ShumateDecember 30, 2013 at 9:17 AM

    I love their faces coming down the stairs! My parents used to take pictures of my sister and I like that on Christmas morning, too! :o) I'm so glad you had such a happy holiday! A VERY happy new year to all of you!

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    1. EmmyDecember 30, 2013 at 8:12 PM

      Yes, we have picture and video from almost every year... though we have moved so often it is definitely not the same set of stairs every time.

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  3. MimiDecember 30, 2013 at 10:02 AM

    Loved seeing all the pics. Ryder is looking older now. What fun to peek at the morning with the darling video you posted. Thanks!!!

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    1. EmmyDecember 30, 2013 at 8:12 PM

      There were a few pictures that made me think he looks older too.

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  4. StacieDecember 30, 2013 at 10:27 AM

    OK, those little bums in the air is hilarious! So glad that you all had a Merry Christmas!

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    1. EmmyDecember 30, 2013 at 8:12 PM

      Thanks! Yes, for some reason they always want a shot like that

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  5. starnes familyDecember 30, 2013 at 12:07 PM

    Picture perfect! Love the gingerbread houses, too. So fun.

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  6. NicoleDecember 30, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    Oh looks like you guys had a fabulous Christmas. Loved the fainting by all :). I wish we could have opened our family presents here at home but Mark was lazy and had my mom wrap them so we didn't get to experience that here. Sooooo awesome you guys all got what you wanted! What is Eric's present though?

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    1. EmmyDecember 30, 2013 at 8:14 PM

      It is Phillips's Hue- it is basically really fancy lightbulbs that hook can hook up to your computer (wirelessly) and then you can change the color to the lightbulbs to anything you can think of. You can even find pictures on line and make the light bulbs that color. You can also program them so they will turn on when you get home, etc. They are pretty cool.

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  7. Grandpa Bapa-PoppieDecember 30, 2013 at 8:35 PM

    Hooray, thanks for the fun stuff.

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  8. BarbaraJanuary 1, 2014 at 12:33 PM

    They look so excited coming down the stairs! How perfect!!

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