more holiday fun.

We headed out for an afternoon to the Missouri Botancial Gardens.  It is a a wonderful place.  I always forget how much I like it until we are ending our time there.  I am going to try to do a better job of getting there.  Especially in the warmer months, they have an awesome children garden that is a great time. If you haven't been.  Go.  I think you will like it.

jacob through the forest.

cousin ellen. cute as a bug

sisters and kids

Round 3...

We have been celebrating my families Christmas with sister Susan and Co. after Christmas the last several years.  It has proved to be nice.
Doug and Suz made dinner.
As expected it was delicious!

a couple of these sweet little chickies...yummo!

sweet jacob...growing up too quick!

looking for.....?????

not a lover of us yet!

charlies angels, or the three stooges...either way...darling

a new BARBIE!

doug excited about a package to open~! :)

he really hates plastic!

my kids LOVE snow globes...and this one lights up!

in awe of the globe...(favorite picture of this post i think...)

i'm so lucky to have such easy kids...seriously they are in love with this thing.

a plate that says ANNE

a meat chopper! :)

you can't see it very well...but it is her very own 'diary'.  coolest thing ever for her.  i thought she would draw...nope she writes down e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.....too cute

dad's new hat.

love this kid.

Round 2...

Christmas Morning/Day, at our house since we have been married, consists of the family coming over for dinner.  As a younger person, I didn't really care for Christmas Day.  It was the end of the best time of the year (in my head).  The first Christmas, Adam and I were married I decided to put the kabash on that feeling and have anyone and everyone over for Christmas dinner.  In the past it usually is a formal-ish type affair, Christmas china, sparkly crystal, cloth napkins...Now that there are kids in the picture, that hasn't exactly proven itself to be the most practical approach.  Everyone is excited, overwhelmed, screaming because of new presents.  I am telling everyone to stop touching, don't put that there, did you FLUSH?  PEOPLE ARE COMING OVER!  It is just a little too much for these mommy nerves to handle for a second during that day. (i usually only freak out once on that day!)  So this year, we changed it up a bit...I made several soups and some appetizers and we all just over indulged in fatty goodness. 

Our day started with presents (of course) if you look closely, you can see the blur of Anne...

Then came the cooking....my sweet Adam told me that he would take care of the kitchen, so I didn't give it another thought...just kept cooking, didn't clean as I went...  I thought he was going to fall over when he came in the room! HA!

Did I mention before that only the bottom rack of the dishwasher works?  EEKS!

Presentation of the food....

this little puppy is my  new favorite...won't use it everyday but will serve 3 things at once, all in their own temperature! 

told you....lots of fatty goodness!

and then the new tradition.....WHITE ELEPHANT!  (told you no one would be sad Christmas was ending...everyone goes home with a 'present!)

no more post dinner snoozies....we are going to have FUN! :)

annie was number 1.

which meant she got to pick several times, according to the poem we read

kids were observers....

a new santa hat!  kate was in LOVE

the coveted Christmas light sunglasses! 

a light up door knocker!  uncle don's favorite!

jason got the hair band!  doesn't he look GREAT?!

uncle jerry got the tigger night light...a must have!