A very Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! This is by far my favorite time of year--special family time and a time dedicated to Christ's birth and His incredible gift to us.

This post is going to be long.... but hang on until the end. I promise you won't be disappointed!

In following tradition, we spent Christmas Eve with Jared's family.

The kids participated in the annual Nativity with Grey as a shepherd and a wiseman. He loved it this year and was actually quiet for the first time. It turned out beautifully. Takes me back to my childhood acting out the nativity with my cousins. I was always an angel with Mindy and Jess!

After the nativity, a surprise visitor made a special stop on his way to deliver gifts. Grey was really excited this year... Elise-not so much. She is terrified of Santa, but not enough to refuse a gift or candy canes.

Aunt Pam picked out adorable, matching PJs for some of the cousins. Absolutely impossible to get everyone looking after filling them up with gifts and candy. They are cute anyways...

It was a wonderful evening and I am so blessed with such great family.

Christmas morning was perfect! I love my Jared-time without interruptions. It is the best gift ever to spend time together. And we are so glad the kids are young enough to sleep in a little. We didn't get out of bed until after 7 AND after the kids snuggled us first. Then we put the cinnamon rolls in the oven to bake while opening our presents. I am so spoiled with a thoughtful, generous husband and kids that adore their gifts.

Stockings are my favorite part--as you can tell I couldn't fit most things inside.

Grey was most excited about his new bike and magnetic blocks.

Elise loves her new kitchen and the mini baby she found in her stocking. She is holding onto it right now as she sleeps.

After our lazy family morning we were so happy to have my family over for even more yummy food and presents. My brother and his girlfriend Emily came over with my mom and step-dad. I don't think we have ever stayed at our house on Christmas Day and it was really, really nice. The kids stayed in their PJs ALL DAY LONG and then went right back to bed in them. hehehe...

Bryan & Emily

Dave with his Home Depot stocking

My mom opening gifts with Elise

The attempted family picture

After everything, our greatest gift is this growing belly of mine. Come July 2011, Jared & I will bring a third baby into the family. Yes we might just be crazy! Merry Christmas to you!!!

***These videos really are for family because they are really bad and definitely boring if you don't care to watch kids and dogs do typical cute kid and dog things***