Christmas - Round 3 (Christmas Eve & Christmas morning)

Our handsome boys leaving cookies and milk out for Santa. We were headed to Salina, but we wanted to make sure that the big guy stopped by our house, too! Carter was so excited about the whole ordeal. Santa was FINALLY coming! Leaving the key for Santa to get in (we don't have a chimney!).

Then we were off to Salina to celebrate with Chris' family. Shortly after we arrived, Santa stopped by with gifts for all of the kids!

And our boys took one last opportunity to sit on his lap...they did MUCH better this time!Grandma's turn with Santa! After a yummy beef stroganoff dinner, we all went downstairs and the adults had a little white elephant gift exchange. Carter and McKenna took their seats to watch all the action.Asher "chewed" on daddy's beverage...he's learning early.Ryan got this sweet vest as his gift in the exchange...you might remember it from our Ugly Sweater party?? The rules were that we had to "gift" something that we already had in our house...this vest totally qualified!! And he wears it so well...

Christmas morning we woke up and found stockings filled to the brim! Carter dug right in and was asking to eat his candy at 8am!Asher took his time with his stocking...Carter ended up helping him out.Then we moved back downstairs for more presents! Asher helped papa open his presents.After a fun morning of breakfast, presents and family, Aunt Angie, Carter and Chris settled into the couch for some laptop and iPod fun...our little techies! :

Kid Fest.

My girlfriends from high school always try to get together when everyone is in town. Last week we had a little mexican fiesta with the hubbies, kids, everyone! The big kids got to eat first at their own special table...Carter, Reed, Adyson and Ethan (plus mommies Jenny and Noelle).Apparently Asher wasn't getting his meal fast enough, so he decided to take matters into his own hands...After dinner it was playtime...Reed showed us that he is a budding musician at heart...Rock on Reed. Ethan did some bike ridin'...Carter did some fishin'...Adyson held baby Ellyana...

And Asher got some cuddles from Tiff. We've determined that these two could cause some serious trouble together. Look at those ornery faces.

This was the first time we'd met little Ellyana since she lives in CO, so we were all spoiling her rotten.Tiff helped Carter and Asher open their gifts...love the wrapping paper hanging out of Asher's mouth. Elly, Jenny, Tiff and Asher.

The Kramer family: Rob, Ethan, Elly and Noelle.

Look at that sweet smile!

Our very own Christmas miracle! A decent picture of all of us with all the kids and nobody is throwing a fit or running away...YAY!

Christmas - Round 2

After all of our extended family left Sunday afternoon, we opened presents with Grammy, Crappaw, Aunt Lou & Unc. Asher got the first present to open, but Carter graciously stepped in to help out.Otherwise, we may have been there all day! Ash man was only interested in eating the paper...once again.With wrapping paper to eat and snuggles from Aunt Lou, life couldn't get much better!Carter opened a few smaller gifts and then he got to go on a little scavenger hunt. Several clues led him all around the house and the final clue sent him to the backyard for the big gift...
A new 4-wheeler!! Carter was more than a "little" excited.While he cruised around, Asher & I came out to watch for a little bit. Once it got too chilly, we moved back inside. Asher stood up at the front door and apparently the cold felt really good on his tongue...Once we dragged Carter back inside, there was one more present to open. His reaction was priceless...

It's REAL BOWLING (the only thing he's asked for)!!!All the gifts were a huge hit...thanks so much Grammy, Crappaw, Aunt Lou and Unc. These kids have no idea how spoiled they are! We love you!

Christmas - Round 1

Last weekend, we hosted the Hubert family Christmas in Mac between our home and my parents' home. Everyone was able to make it and we all had a great time. Here's the whole gang (all 24 of us!).
We had two new family members this year: Asher (8 months) and Naia (4 months)...they both got lots of spoiling. Friday night we just lounged around in the basement. We were trying to get Carter to dance for the crowd and Aunt Deb got up to demonstrate. Carter encouraged her with some cash.She may have turned a little red :).Carter givin' Asher some love (aka squeezing him as tight as he can).Snuggling with Aunt Lou and Unc. And hamming it up with Great Grandpa.Don't worry, Asher got in on the dancin' and lovin' as well.The boys ended the evening with some heated games of ping pong.

Saturday we spent the day shopping, cooking, chatting and eating a huge meal for dinner. Unc smoked some awesome pork and turkey and everyone else pitched in with some wonderful dishes. There was no shortage of delicious food!Then we took a few pictures since it's rare that we're ALL together. These two goofballs jumped in first.Next up: Great Grandma and Great Grandpa.Is it time to open presents YET??The little ones went first and Carter was pumped for Hungry Hungry Hippos!

Then the older group had a gift exchange with the theme of "Things you can use in the kitchen."Carter named himself the designated present deliverer. And Asher kept guard over Ashley's sandwich maker.Nate surprised Grandma by making her a new stand for her old parking meter.Grandma made cute little reindeer sacks to hold everyone's gifts.Foster was thrilled with his cash...

...and Carter was more thrilled with the candy!The little guys rounded out the evening with some Hungry Hungry Hippos action......while the big kids had some horse racing competitions.

Although we only gather once a year, it's always so much fun to be with the whole family. Thanks for making the trip (KC & Arkansas clan)...we love you all!