Another Merry Christmas! 2013

Christmas came just in time for everyone to get horribly sick this year. The kids made it through the school year unscathed and then gave in to every germ and bug that had built up in their system for the last 4 weeks. Every single person in the family was violently sick with a cold/flu or stomach bug by the Sunday before Christmas and Bob and I were wondering how we could possibly get through the holidays like this. Thankfully for all of us our Christmas celebrations are low key and with the people who love us the most so we didn't have to worry about how terrible we all felt.

 

 We are so fortunate to have found a babysitter for 5 kids and one that adores our kids and has become part of our family.

The kids were thrilled when Kyrstin stopped over to say Merry Christmas and get some Christmas hugs from the kids! We had a blast catching up with Kyrstin and hearing about her plans for the holidays - some of which will hopefully include us!

We are ready for our 1st Christmas celebration - heading to Auntie Karla and Uncle Pat's house for Christmas Eve with the family.

Abby and Molly had their own private table for dinner in front of the "fire".

The kids table!

The 2 Peter's!

Peter took a little snooze in the middle of the party but woke up in time for dessert.

Papa and the girls!

 

Papa and Lizzie taking a snuggle.

Auntie Karla and Auntie Vicki having fun on Christmas Eve.

Molly and Abby posing in front of the Christmas tree.

Another Papa's girl.

But Tyler is definitely a Grammy's Boy!

Ellie and her favorite person in the world - Tyler!

Sarah - she kept us all entertained on Christmas Eve.

Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Blowing out the candles on the Jesus Birthday cupcakes.

Everyone was loving being together on Christmas Eve - even the sick ones.

The 2 Peter's - take 2!

And just for good measure as we were all leaving to hang our stockings and get ready for Christmas Day the kids turned on some karaoke for us all to sing along to!

Even Sarah got in on the act!

Molly and Abby leading us in Jungle Bells! A perfect way to end the night!

Annie was the 2nd one up - Peter was up at 5am but let us sleep. Annie, on the other hand - woke us all up at 6:00am.

How could anyone resist this happy smile. Every year Annie is so surprised to find Santa presents under the tree.

Daddy and Lizzie looking tired but happy to be up on Christmas morning.

Daddy's girls waiting for Ellie to wake up so we can open presents.

Finally stocking time!

Peter loved everything in his stocking.

Lizzie was thrilled with every single thing she opened in her stocking. It was such a fun morning - I love stocking time - all five kids opening gifts at the same time.

Peter likes his socks.

Lizzie loved her Red Sox blanket for the couch - it was "soft and squishy" as she put it.

Annie got an MP3 player which her mother can not figure out how to download music on to still.

Pete got a white pair of Air Jordan's.

Lizzie loved all of her presents but she especially loved the t-ball and baseball glove so she can work with daddy on hitting and catching before the t-ball season starts in April.

Santa really knows Molly - she got her chestnut Uggs with buttons that she has been wanting.

Annie immediately opened her Ariel art set and began making pictures for all of us.

Lizzie got a train set just like the library has - she could not wait to set it up.

Molly and Ellie hung out on the little couch all morning going through their gifts together and laughing.

molly loved the hot pink North Face that Santa picked out for her.

Daddy's girl through and through.

Since present opening was over by 8 we still had time to open a few toys, put some batteries in things and even play with the play dough that Santa brought. It was perfect - Bob and I sat at the table drinking coffee with the kids while they all played and talked. I'm not sure how many Christmas mornings we will have where the big kids still want to be downstairs with us so we soaked it in!

We even got a surprise visit from Auntie Meg on Christmas morning. Lila and Brendan were done opening gifts and she was out in search of Dunkin Donuts but instead she found us and got some Christmas hugs.

The girls fresh from the shower and happy to see their auntie on Christmas morning.

We made it over to Grammy's house for brunch and had a blast there too.

Lizzie Bug telling Papa all about what Santa brought her.

The big girls back at the table catching up on their mornings!

Katie and Annie posing with Katie's American Girl doll - these 2 are so cute.

The big kids waiting for brunch!

Grammy made a phenomenal brunch with so much food and great times with all of us together. The kids all sat together at their own table and the big kids watched the little ones - it was nice for the adults to get some time to talk.

But ten Grammy announced presents and the kids quickly found a spot in the living room by the fire! Look at those faces!

Peter loved all of his gifts - he looks like an adult!

Present time!

Molly got a dress for the Ceili - Grammy picked out a gorgeous purple number.

Annie loved her sweat suit from Grammy.

Katie loved her presents.

Peter got a cool Nike sweatshirt from Grammy and papa.

Molly and Abby got beautiful Irish crosses from Grammy.

And Make - up - not that either of them need any.

And Best of all - One Direction Perfume! They both shrieked when they opened the perfume - it was adorable.

Abby loving her perfume!

These girls read every word on the package and looked at every picture on the box.

Molly hanging on tight to her perfume.

Ellie Bean got a pretty baby and lots of cool toys. She could not believe how many presents she got - she kept saying " another one!" She loved Christmas morning at Grammy's!

The Harding Family

Grammy and Papa with the Harding family.

The Harding - Wheeler Family

And The Harding - Wheeler Family in a new pose.

Grammy and Papa and the Harding - Wheeler's!

Abby got skates for Christmas and was like a pro on them.

Papa in his Harding University sweatshirt.

Lizzie trying out her roller skates.

Papa cleared out the garage so the roller skaters and the boys with their bumper cars could play in the garage with all of their new stuff.

Lizzie Bug was awesome on her skates.

Abby looking pretty good on her skates.

Annie is getting in on the roller skating action.

Uncle Pat and Abby

Abby and Annie and Lizzie - our professional skaters!

My goddaughter is so gorgeous I could not stop taking pictures of her.

Bumper cars - they laughed hysterically the entire time - what a great gift.

Superstars!

Sister kisses.

Later in the day Grammy sent me home to take a nap (Thank goodness!) and the kids watched a movie, played and opened their toys. It was a perfect, low key afternoon.

Annie got a makeover from her big sister.

Ellie Bean loved being at Grammy and Papa's house in front of the fire.

My little beauty with her makeover from Molly.

Molly was relaxing when I came back.

Round two - appetizers and leftover brunch!

At around 6 we made it up to Auntie Kake's for some more fun. The kids were exhausted but loving every minute of their never ending Christmas Day.

Uncle B looks adorable in Molly's glasses.

Lizzie got a special gift from her godparents - a "Godchild" ornament and a Nook. She has not put it down since she got it.

Godmama hugs!

Goddaddy hugs!

Auntie Kake and Ellie doing some snuggling.

Auntie Beth and her godmother!

Auntie Beth getting some Katie loving!

Grammy got a gift from Uncle Jeff and Auntie Eileen - it was wrapped like ten times.

KK and Auntie Meg!

Best photo bomb ever - check out KK in the back.

That's better! Sister Love!

Auntie Karla and Auntie Beth

Papa never has an empty lap.

Auntie Beth and the twins!

Molly girl is next up on Papa's lap.

The Bob Marley hat looks good on Uncle Pat.

But even better on Papa.

And the BEST on Ellie bean!

We had a wonderful Christmas with our family. Even sick the kids were amazing and loved every minute of their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with all of the people they love the most. It is always a great reminder of how blessed we are to celebrate the holidays. We missed Uncle Ed a lot but we are hoping to see him again in a few months.

GNM - ILY!