our merry little Christmas

{our Christmas card 2012}

Before we left for Chicago we had a nice little family Christmas at our house. We had talked to the boys about how Santa knew that we would be in Chicago for Christmas and that he might come early to our house to deliver some gifts to them that would be too big for us to travel home with on the airplane when returning to Denver. But of course they would have to try their hardest to be good little boys if that was to happen! 

And to their surprise, the morning we left for Chicago, they awoke to a tree surrounded by presents! I guess Ecakbee had a good report for Santa! 

{Don't mind Nolan's hand scratching his little bootie while checking out the stockings! Boys...ha!}

We decided to start a new tradition of 3 gifts on Christmas morning, just like Jesus was given 3 gifts when he was born. We loved this idea because the boys knew what to expect and they also receive gifts from so many other loved ones, that it really kept things under control this year. They were truly grateful for each of their gifts. And they have played, played, played non stop each day with all of their new, fun things! 

Before gifts, we opened stockings. 

 And then it was on to gifts. 1 from the brothers, 1 from mom & dad, and one from Santa. 

We gave both of the big boys nice headphones to use with the computer and iPad! They LOVED them! And look pretty cute in them too! We used them on the plane later that day. 

Brooks was super excited about his new Broncos football from his brothers. 

Nolan and Brooks got Heath this fun Broncos helmet. 

It will get a lot of use in this house full of boys! 

Here they are opening up their gifts from Santa! 

I don't know who was more excited to open this gift, Heath or Nolan! Heath had it in his mind since last Christmas when he got "big Buzz" that next Christmas he would want "big Woody". He did not deviate from that plan. But he is not as into Toy Story anymore as he used to be. He still loved his gift, but was just as into Nolan's presents as he was his own. 

Lovin' on his new guy! 

Then it was Nolan's turn...

Sometimes it's really nice having 3 boys...they play with all the same things. And we'll get lots of years of use out of everything! 

 Brooks got clothes from Santa. Not too exciting, but needed since he is so much smaller than the boys were at age 1. 

Mark and I exchanged a few gifts as well. 

I always make him a calendar of family pictures to hang in his cube at work. 

Nolan picked out this wiffle ball bat for his Daddy. 

And Heath got him a bucket of wiffle balls with a tee inside. 

Brooks gave him cologne and I got him a puffy vest. Of course there are no pictures of me, since I was the one taking them all. But I was super spoiled with a laptop bag, a gift card to J Crew for a new bikini to bring to Cancun, a comfy p.j. shirt, and a new pillow! 

We also had this special gift to open... Nolan made it for us at school...

Ha! This picture makes me laugh! 

And on a side note, just so I can always remember, here is Nolan's cute handwriting on his Christmas gift for his teacher. 

We gave her a gift card to P.F. Changs...you can never go wrong with gift cards, teachers LOVE them, no matter what the value! 

And here is his precious Gingerbread Man cookie that he made at his Gingerbread party on the last day of school before Winter Break. His marshmallow eyes crack me up! 

We had such a fun morning together that was followed by Christmas donuts, playing with gifts, short naps, and a plane ride to Chicago! 

 I am SO thankful for my family. My BEST gift of all! 

Stay tuned for many more Christmasy posts!