Christmas Day!

Christmas morning I heard my girls wake up about 5:30 a.m.
But they knew better then to come ask me if we could get up, I had told all of the kids the night before that 6:30 would be the earliest.
So, right on the dot @ 6:30 they came into our room to get us up.
Poor Rylan was not ready to get up so I had to wake him cuz the kids were so ansy.

Here's what Santa left before the kids attacked all their presents!

Braedon on his new bike!

Can you tell she was excited about the Dippin Dot Maker?!

Lauren's new UGG Dakota shoes, yeah she wouldn't let me take any pics of her of course.

Rylan's new big wheels bike!

Rye didn't care too much about opening any presents this year.
Only about eating the M&M's Santa left!

A horse for her AG doll.

Braedon flew through his presents this year, it was too cute!
Once the kids were done, we sat around for a little bit to enjoy all their new toys.
We then headed over to my mom's house for 10 o'clock to open presents there.

Here's what her tree looked like.

Can you say spoiled?
I have 3 siblings, we all have spouses/girlfriends & there are 10 grandchildren.
Plus my father & uncle also stopped by, so there was quite the group of us!

These are the stockings my mom fills for the grandkids, aren't they huge?!
We have all told her to stop, just get smaller one's, there's too many grandkids now but she won't.
Next year she will have 12 to fill!
I think she's crazy but the kids love them!

She sets up breakfast for us here....

Once the kids have eaten they dig in to the presents.
It tends to get a little chaotic & loud, but I guess that's what happens w/so many kids.

After we all are done opening presents we went back home to change & head back for dinner.
After dinner we then head over to hubby's mom's house for dessert & more presents to open.
Here's where I was bad because I didn't get any more pics, I was a little tired you could say.
We got home about 9:00 p.m. that night.
It was a long day but a great one!!

I did manage to get a pic of my boys in their matching p.j'.'s from hubby's mom.
Aren't they adorable?

And this is the aftermath.....
This is just of the toys, doesn't even include all the clothes they got as well!
Needless to say we had a great Christmas & we were all very happy & are grateful for all the wonderful things we received!

I finally got to cleaning & reorganizing the house a couple days ago so I could put everything away!
Tomorrow we will take down all the Christmas decorations, which is always depressing!
But it's got to be done!

Next is preparing for the birth of our 5th child!
I'm due in 3 weeks!
I can't wait to meet her!
I'm so done w/being pregnant that's for sure!!


Allison

Christmas Eve!

On Christmas Eve I got the kids ready early in the afternoon so I could get some pics of them all dressed up before we headed to church.
Here are a few....

This one came out the best.
I tried getting the 2 girls together then the 2 boys but they weren't really into it, they were to excited to get the night started.

Once I was done w/pics it was time to get hubby from work.
I had told the kids that they could open their present from us once we got home.
When we arrived home they were all sitting on the couch w/their gift in hand waiting for us, it was too funny!

Rye w/his gift.

The look on Braedon's face is priceless!
I love this age!

LuLu's 1st North Face that she begged for!

My girls together w/their new North Faces.

I then took the 3 oldest to 4 o'clock mass while hubby stayed home w/Rylan.
After mass we came back home & the hubby's father came over to bring the kids their gifts.
They each got like 2 gift bags filled w/all kinds of goodies like games, books, jewelry, hair things, toys, etc...

We then headed over to my Aunt Debbie's house as we do every year.
It's a fun time, lots of great food, laughs, the kids get to hang out w/all their cousins & I get to hang out w/all my cousins who I don't always get to see!

My aunt has a daycare so she has a ton of toys.
So, all the kids gather in the basement & play.

Here's LuLu w/my nephew Liam & my Aunt Rosie.

My cousin Ashley & her cute Christmas outfit.

Ash & I.

I wish I had gotten some more pics....
Oh well.


Have a great night!



Allison

The 2nd Annual Melle Christmas Cookie Decorating Party!

I'm back!
How was everyone's Christmas?
Ours was great!
I haven't done a post since the 17th, feels like forever!
I just didn't have the time w/all the last minute prep. before Christmas & w/the kids being out of school.

Today's post will be some pics from my kid's Christmas cookie decorating party.
I started this last year & it was such a hit that it is now going to be one of our traditions!

I set up 2 tables, 1 in the dining room & 1 in the living room because we had like 16 kids coming so 1 table was def. not enough.
My girls & I made a ton of cookies in all different shapes, we had stockings, trees, sleigh's, stars, wreaths & many more. My best friend Carrie also made a couple dozen as well. So, needless to say we prob had almost 200 cookies!
My mother & I bought a ton of frosting, sprinkles, candies & whatever else we could find to use for decorating them.
First I ordered 3 party size pizzas so we could all eat dinner first then onto the decorating!

Even the adults got in on the decorating!

LuLu being crazy!

Some of the masterpieces!
I bought each family a Santa plate from the Dollar Tree for them to take their cookies home on.

I also made up individual baggies of Reindeer food for each family to take home w/them.
Really simple, just oats & red & gold glitter.

I found these cute little printable tags online.
Printed them out, punched 2 holes in them, added them to the zip lock bags w/some green ribbon & added each family name on them.
Then before they left, they could just go find their name & take it w/them.

I tried to get a pic of all the kids before everyone left but it wasn't possible.
This is one of as many as I could get together.

The kids all had a blast!
It was definitely great being able to get all of them together to celebrate Christmas!
Now I can't wait to do it again next year!

Allison