Christmas catch up!

We had a great Christmas this year.  Filled with lots of family and fun.  Braydon was pretty excited for Christmas even though he wasn't exactly sure what it meant.  The first thing we had to do was go pick out a Christmas Tree. We always go the first weekend in December.  The hunt was on.

Braydon and Dad looking for the tree

The boys found it!

Putting ornaments on the tree

Kellan getting into the holiday spirit

Nothing says Christmas time like decorating Christmas cookies

 We got the house all decorated.  Braydon loved making Christmas cookies - He actually loved eating the cookie dough more!

  We kept asking Braydon want he wanted Santa to bring him. He never knew what he wanted.  He would ask back, what is Santa bringing you?  Eventually he decided he wanted a tractor like Levi's (the kid at daycare) and like the one he rode on with Grandma Pat.  So we wrote Santa a letter. 

writing the letter...he would say Dear Santa over and over again

The completed letter

 After stating he wanted a tractor a few times, he eventually saw an ipad commercial and he decided he wanted that instead.  It was tough to convince him that a tractor would be more fun!


The Friday night before Christmas we headed to Perry for the Winkelman Christmas.  We had a blizzard on Wednesday night, so the roads were not ideal, but we made it.  We had a great dinner and had some fun with the adult gift exchange.  I actually forgot my camera (I can't believe it)!

Saturday we had a great day just hanging out, finishing up wrapping presents, and of course making more Christmas cookies.  These were the cookies for Santa.  Braydon got to open one present Saturday night (this was the night he was coming to Urbandale).  He opened the movie Frosty the Snowman and he was really excited.  He had watched it at the babysitters and was always running around the house singing...Frosty the snowman...those are the only words he knew!

Then we set out some cookies for Santa - he got one and his reindeer got carrots.  Braydon didn't really care, he was more concerned that he gets 3 cookies for himself.   So we had Santa's plate with 1 cookie and Braydon bowl right next to it with 3 cookies!

He went to bed pretty easily with no arguments.

The next morning he woke up and asked me right away, "Is Santa here?"  I said no he was here, but he already left.  He then asked me, "Did he leave me a present?" I said yes! So he came downstairs and opened up his first present - 2 tractors!

he wanted a red one like the one he rode in with Grandma Pat

He really didn't care about anything else.  But eventually he asked about the other presents.  So we let him open a few more. 

 Meanwhile, Kellan was eating breakfast and eventually Braydon helped him open a few gifts.

 We opened all the presents but 1.  I told Braydon he couldn't open it until we got a family picture in front of our tree.  He was very willing to participate. 

 The last present Braydon got to open was a present for the entire family.  It is a tablet (or as Braydon calls it an Ipad!).  He was soooo excited. 

Playing with the tablet

 We also had stockings this year and Braydon was most excited about the twizzlers he got in his stocking!  He thought it was really fun to take each stocking down and see what was in them.

 We had a great day, just hanging out, letting Braydon play with his toys and just relaxing.  That night we headed to Perry because all the Lundstroms were going to be there. 

Braydon & his cousin Ava

Kellan & his cousin Charlie

 We had a great night just catching up with everyone. The next day I decided the kids needed to get out of the house for a little while.  So we let them play in the snow and "sled".  Sledding consisted of me running around the extremely flat backyard pulling the sled.  No big deal with one kid on the sled, but we never had less than 2 kids on the sled at once!  Needless to say I got my workout in.  We thought it was too cold to go to a hill, but maybe next year we try it anyways!

Tyson, Braydon, Charlie on the sled

Tyson, Ava, Braydon & Charlie - they actually all fit and rode on the sled like this

Braydon throwing snowballs at Papa

Ava thought it was fun to ride on Charlie's back!

red cheeks Braydon!

 Uncle Joel and Lila were so exhausted from me pulling the sled, they decided they needed a nap (or atleast Uncle Joel did)!

Uncle Joel & Lila

 Christmas Eve night, we took Braydon to Christmas Eve Mass for the first time.  I wasn't sure what we would be in for, but Braydon said he wanted to go with his cousins Tyson & Charlie.  He did great!  For the first 15 minutes, he kept telling me to be quiet everytime I would say something.  After about 10 minutes he told me, "We go home now?"  He asked me about 30 times, but he never threw a fit or caused a scene!  I consider this a success!

Next up was Christmas Eve at Grandma Marcia's with the Murphys.  We of course had  another great meal and got to visit for a little while. 

Kellan looking all Christmasy in his sweater!

 At the end of the night, I said we needed picture of Great Grandma Dar and the Murphy grandkids.  Well Braydon refused to take the picture until Uncle Jeff was in it! 

Renae, Grandma Dar, Dani, Kellan, Ryan, Braydon & Uncle Jeff!

Murphy timer picture!

Urbandale Murphys

 We went to bed fairly early, but were ready for some more presents in the morning!

Kellan enjoying his new book!

 After opening presents at Marcia's, we headed back over to the Lundstroms. 

Papa helping Kellan open a present

Dad and Kellan were exhausted after present opening!

 Getting us all together for a family picture is usually a pretty big challenge.  This year wasn't difficult, but I couldn't get my camera to work very well.  So the only one that wasn't blurry is Ava looking the wrong way!  You have to take what you can get. 

 Christmas wouldn't be complete without making Christmas cookies with Grandma.  Too bad Braydon is more into eating the dough then making the cutouts. 

Braydon thought it was funny to put flour on Grandma Pat's sweater and she returned the favor with some flour on his nose - he thought this was hilarious!

Of course he had to get Tyson too!

Ava was more worried about stealing some dough!

 We headed home that evening and we really enjoyed all the time we got to spend with our family.  Christmas time is always extremely busy, but it is always fun.  We had one more Christmas in Cedar Rapids the following weekend.

After New Years I told Braydon we were going to take the Christmas tree down because Christmas was over, he got upset and said, its not over and then showed me all the snow outside.  I told him we would keep the snow for a little while, but Christmas is over.  Every day he asks where we going or who is coming to my house?  I think he likes having his family around!