Christmas Morning!

Christmas morning is one of my favorite day of the year.  It is the only time in a year that we try to provide wants and surprises to the children, in the spirit of Infant Jesus.  Being a large family the rest of the year is about necessities, whom absolutely needs what, but on  Christmas I work very hard to think of things the children would like to have.

We woke a little before the bigger kids and met the kids in the living room.  They were so excited, each gift caused a whole new level of excitement.  It got very loud and the giggles, smiles, and excitement was felt by everyone!

The first thing that happened is little Gwena went straight to the crib and patted the baby Jesus.  It was so sweet, presents all under the tree and she goes to Jesus!

This year we got the big kids a punching bag, all the kids a table top foosball table.
Kate got knife sharpener and Kitchen Ninja which is a food processor/blender with a few outfits,
Carolyn got a hanging jewelry box, decorative box for her things, art supplies and outfits.
Jac got a book, pocket knife, lantern and pj's along with the other big kids
Joe got football shoes, pj's, and video games.
Evelyn a few stuffed animals, crafts, and video games.
Madelyn some weaving looms,  yatzee, and moniopoly.
Michael got video games, toy guns and a watch
Rosalyn baby doll things and a few barbie things
Tony Jake and the neverland pirate set
Gwena a baby doll and some baby toys.

They all got some little things in addition to open.

I got a nice bracelet a 30x20 black and white collage of pic's I had taken over the summer and the girls got me a nice metal decorative tree that hangs on the wall and you hang pictures on the tree.

I got Steve batteries for his high end drill and the kids got him a weight belt for back support when he lifts weights.

We feel so blessed to have such wonderful children, very loving and helpful family our faith and such  wonderful times within our family.

Midnight Mass

Rosie being little Mary, taking the baby Jesus to the Altar and Joe serving.  The little kids stayed up and were great behaved!

Merry, Merry Christmas. Christmas Eve

Have been way too busy for posting this week.  Its a nice time for catch up.  We had a beautiful Christmas.  We spent a lot of time in the kitchen making all sorts of candies.  We didn't even touch them today!  haha.  But that will leave us some candies from now until New Years!  

We have cookies, choclates, peanut brittle, fudge, kix candy, buck eyes and oreo balls.  

The day before Christmas Eve we tidied up the house.  

Christmas Eve we cleaned up, did art projects, took naps and had a nice fish dinner.  We got all dressed up, took pictures and left to look at lights, then off to Midnight Mass and Potluck dinner.  

When we got to Mass Rosie was chosen to be the little Mary to take the baby Jesus to the Altar.  We got home around 2am and me and Steve got to bed around 4am.  

Jaclyn and her friends doing another Christmas song with ASL

Thank You Carolyn for teaching

Carolyn taught the girls sign language for Silent Night

Christmas Program

The school kids had their program.  Jac and Joe in the Highschool Choir with many of their friends.  Carolyn taught some of the girls the sign language for two of the Christmas songs.  The little kids did a play on Infant Jesus of Prague.  Evelyn's class recited the candy cane poem and Madelyn's class sang a song.

Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

On the third Sunday of Advent we decorated the tree.  How cute was Tony remembering that Daddy build's the tree, went over grabbed a branch, opened it so carefully and placed it in the tree stand.  Then announced the tree was done!  It was so cute!

Katelyn bought new lights and me some ornaments this year.  Added the start of a Christmas Village and the cat terrorized me with chasing the ornaments on my tree!