Merry Christmas!

We had another wonderful Christmas.  No one could sleep, so we were up, opening stockings by 6:20.  Ben has always had the tradition of putting a stuffed animal in the kids stockings, but the stakes have risen, and now he tries to see how big of a stuffed animal he can shove in.  The kids think it's hilarious to find their stocking with a giant animal head sticking out.

This year, Colin got a lion. 

Alison got Eli this Fortnite doll so he could play Barbies with her.

Fortnite was the theme for Eli this year.

Alison's theme was Our Generation Dolls.

Colin's theme was sports.

This year seemed extra sweet.  The kids were just SO excited to receive each gift and loved everything.  After each gift, Eli would say a sweet 'thank you' and give a hug.
After tea pastries, strata and coffee, it was time to play.


Eli has wanted this play dough dentist set for a long time and it was the first thing he wanted to play with.  It was a good distraction for him while Colin put together his Lego set all by himself.

 

Ben assembled the new basketball goal and the boys alternated between shooting hoops, skateboarding and playing soccer.

My favorite thing may have been seeing Ben skateboard and teaching Colin (who didn't want me to video).

One of Alison's favorite gift was a bow making kit.  She was quick to get out to her craft station and start creating.

Using her doll as a model:

 

I was super careful with the zwiebach this time and it was my best batch ever...had to document it because my Thanksgiving batch was a fail.

 

For dinner, we had ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, zwiebach and Christmas brussel sprouts (they were delicious) and cheesecake for dessert.

It took me way too long to realize Eli is sticking out his tongue in this picture. 

Merry Christmas!