Christmas Eve 2010

Reunited and it feels so good :) 

The story of our Christmas Eve this year is SNOW!!

 Just after we arrived on Thursday night, a big snow storm came through northeast Iowa and left 10.5" fresh inches of beautiful snow!  

 When we woke up on Christmas Eve, it was quite a beautiful sight outside!  Ava was glued to the windows, taking it all in :) 

 But we couldn't keep her in for long, she was dying to go out and see it for herself.

 It was almost waist deep on her!

 She and Daddy played and played in the cold, while Carter and I watched in the warmth of inside.

What a perfect way to spend Christmas Eve!

 Trying to make a snow angel, but not really understanding how :) 

 Travis is already trying to get some work out of her! Ha Ha!

 My sisters and I decided it was the perfect backdrop for a winter photo op.

 Merry Christmas to our parents!  

They are loving having all of us home again :) 

 After all that playing, a nap was in store :) 

 Like Father, like son :) 

 Cutting out some sugar cookies with Stacie

 I found a new recipe and I couldn't wait to try it.  I typically don't do sugar cookies, but I got inspired to do something fun for the kids...a new tradition :)

 Aunt Stacie loves to cuddle with Carter!

 The boys

 Uncle Jesse

 Happy to be spending our first day of vacation together :)

 Icing

 Slaving away!

 Ava was very curious about what I was doing in Grandma's kitchen...

Our little Christmas cuties :) 

 The cookie slaves :)

 Finally doing the fun part!

 By the time it was all said and done, it was quite a process!  But, my parents always did lots of fun traditions with us as we grew up and I wanted to start some new ones with our kids.

 So we had a little "Happy Birthday Jesus" party :) 

And this is what we made!  

Aren't they adorable???  I loved them :) 

I think the bells are my favorite though!

Stacie and Jesse brought jammies for Carter's first Christmas.

 And he looked so handsome in them.

 Ava put her Christmas jammies on too :) 

 We all got settled in...

 And Trav read us the story about Jesus' birth from our favorite, kids Bible storybook :)

Ava didn't exactly sit still for the whole story... 

...but clearly Carter was riveted!  

We kept our expectations pretty low this year, but loved doing something that hopefully will be part of our Christmas Eve celebrations for years to come :) 

 Grammy and Carter 

After we put the littles to bed, I wrapped presents with lots of help from my sister :) 

Yes, I saved all of it for the last minute!

 Can't wait to give gifts to our babies in the morning!

 It was Carter's first Christmas Eve and I think he got a pretty great one!  We spent all day cuddled up inside with family while we watched the beautiful snow fall outside.  How fun to have experienced 2 Christmases in a row, for the first time with our kids :) I love Christmas Eve and all the anticipation that goes along with it.  Although we stayed in all day, Travis and I did sneak out for a midnight drive to look at lights and all of the fresh snow.  We literally blazed new trails on streets that had yet to be plowed, but more importantly, we got a few minutes to soak up the nostalgia of this year.  Such fun memories already...I feel a little bit like Mary, treasuring all these things in my heart :)