Christmas 2013 in pictures

Another Christmas has come and gone.  Time just marches on.  In some ways I am sad that another Christmas has passed and in some ways I am glad it is over with.

 

 

 Christmas Eve, my sister and her family came to our house. Madeline and her cousin Carrington always had the tradition of making a birthday cake for Jesus with their grandma. It was bittersweet watching them at the kitchen counter making it this year.

We had so much food that I don't think anyone ate any of it that evening.

 

My sister and me.

Food....

food....

 

and MORE FOOD!!!

 

                                                    Macheus chilling out with daddy.

                                                       Daniel and McKenzie

 

                                       Daniel, McKenzie and Carrington.

 

We went to a Christmas Eve service at a church in town.  Madeline was asked to play a couple of Christmas hymns for the service.  It was crowded, so we didn't get a great picture of her playing.

The stockings were filled.  It is hard to get a picture of seven stockings lined up!

                                                     Macheus' first stocking! :o)

 

Macheus got a sock monkey, an old-fashioned wooden ring stacker, some books and one "noisy" toy.

 

It has always been our tradition that the children all come down together while Marc videos.  They are getting crowded at the top of the stairs! :o)

                                                                     Mariah

 

Malachi   

 

Macheus wasn't very happy Christmas morning.  We realized the next day that a cold was working on him. 

 

Love the excitement over such simple things.  This is a coon skin cap!

 

McKenzie

 

Myles and his new confederate hat.  Both of the younger boys got new confederate hats, coon skin caps and toy deer rifles.  They are spending their days outside with their new stuff now!

Barbies....  When I had McKenzie I was NOT going to do the Barbie thing, then someone passed some dolls to her, then my sister asked me if she could buy her a Cinderella Barbie and I said yes.  We had a hard time finding decent clothing for them, but McKenzie's favorites were wedding dresses.  She either played wedding or she played with Barbie horses.  Madeline never liked Barbies so there was a stretch of time that they stayed in a bin.  Mariah loves all things having to do with horses,  including the myriad of Barbie horses we have collected over the years.  There has been conflict in our home lately because she takes Malachi's G.I. Joes and turns them into her "grooms" for her weddings.  She asked for a Ken doll for Christmas.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a decent looking Ken doll!?  I was shocked.  To keep my blog "G" rated, I will just say the Ken dolls I found were not masculine looking.  I happened to be in a Target and decided to see what they had.  There amongst the rows and rows of immodest and weird looking dolls was this beautiful "bride"  Barbie and handsome "groom"  Ken.  I was so thrilled!  Marc didn't even ask how much they were!  He just said,  "Put them in the cart."  She is happy and Malachi is too! :o)

 

Madeline

                                                       McKenzie and Daniel

 

Christmas night we went to Daniel's house and had dinner with his family. 

 

Grandpa spent Christmas with us.  He was a trooper and kept up with us the whole day.

 

Madeline and Marc

Off to bed...