We celebrated Jesus. And tried to emphasize that although Santa is cool and brings great things, Jesus is why we have anything at all.
We went to church Christmas Eve and Avery wore her very first dress. But I couldn't get a really great picture of it though.
We ate paninis for Christmas Eve dinner and the boys opened new pajamas. Geoff read "Twas the Night before Christmas" finishing a month of reading Christmas books before bed. Our favorite book was a Christmas book from the library "Olivia Helps With Christmas" by Ian Falconer. We all laughed out loud a lot reading that book. The boys caught all the funny moments. And then they went to sleep.
And woke up bright and early on Christmas morning. Geoff some how got them to wait a little before coming upstairs so I wouldn't miss anything. A pic during the gift opening. It just all happens so fast!
Here they are with wooden name trains Grammy and Grandpa sent and a pic with their stockings.
Avery holding her gift from her brothers.
And here they are with their "surprise" gift for each other. We try to take them every year to pick out a gift for each other. This year we went together and Geoff and I figured we could avoid each other in the store and check out separately. So we loaded up in the van to go to Walmart and when we arrived at the store and looked behind us, all three kids asleep. Geoff said "should we just go home?" I went in and shopped while Geoff stayed in the van with all the nappers. They eventually woke up and were able to get their gifts. And they didn't realize that they got each other the same thing.
They also fell asleep around 6 p.m. one evening when we drove around to look at Christmas lights. I think all of the holiday excitement wore them out in December. They got a camera/video attachment for their Leapsters from Papap and Grandma. Here is a pic of Avery watching them waiting to get her diaper changed.
Speaking of Avery, these pics seem old to me already. I started this Christmas post a couple of weeks ago and am just getting around to finishing it. Look at her little legs stretching to the bottom of the activity center! She likes to stand so much that Geoff brought it out of the crawl space for something new to do.
The boys have moved into the Lego phase. They were so excited about a Lego helicopter, a Lego passenger plane and a Lego barge that they worked out spending some of their Christmas money on those items and sharing them (we are still working on the sharing part). But they were so excited to receive them in the mail that the day they arrived they couldn't fall asleep until 10 p.m. And at 3 a.m. I heard the boys in the kitchen pouring cereal and talking loudly. Since it is still dark when they get up they thought the day had started. I came out of the bedroom and Jack was standing on his chair pouring his cereal while having an animated conversation with Wyatt about the Legos. It took a little bit of convincing to get them to go back to bed. So the excitement continues with new toys around. But we are getting back to our routine and hoping for snow. And thankful for such a nice Christmas and wrap-up for 2011.
A close-up of his super cute stocking he made and stored his ornaments in.
Here is Jack with his reindeer ornament:
They had some sweet little gifts from their teacher and classmates. It is a small group this year (only six kids) but it is a great group of kids and families.
Oh my heart:
Merry Merry.
She loves to sleep in a ball and on her belly:
The boys still run to Avery for kisses and hugs. They even skip us most of the time when it is time for goodbye and goodnight kisses. And they take frequent breaks from playing to run to her and snuggle.
We also braved the cold and joined the squadron to cut down a Christmas tree. And Geoff found a good one (certified by our good friend Heather who confirmed it was a good tree before Geoff cut it down). Here is J with his "umbrella" the top of the tree Geoff had to trim off. 
Gorgeous!
Those trees always look misleadingly small in the forest. Geoff had to do some more trimming to get it to fit. 
The next day we went to a "Wonderland of Trees" before ice skating. Before I had the stroller parked and the camera primed, the boys were on Santa's lap (there wasn't even a line...just Santa sitting by his lonesome) and they were telling him what they wanted for Christmas.
"A remote control helicopter!" "A remote control plane!" "A tree!" "A ladder!"
We also made time for some gingerbread decorating... 
Serious business. I think they are learning some things from "Cake Boss".
The LOOK. 
And again...
