Christmas!

We sort of rearranged our usual Christmas plans this year so that we could go to church on C
hristmas Eve here at our home church, and open gifts at home Christmas morning.  It was so nice!  Eleanor and Bennett both came to the candlelight service instead of nursery.  It did get a little long for them both but they LOVED the singing and candle part.  After church we had some Christmas cookies and the kids got to open their presents to each other.

Christmas morning we opened gifts, had a yummy breakfast, and then packed up and headed to Oostburg!  Each child got 5 gifts, which was a new thing I tried this year and really liked!  They all got an ornament, then something they need/to read/to wear/want.  It was a good thing I did it this way because Bennett counted the gifts and made sure they all had the same amount. :)  Bennett got some new art supplies, a camping ornament, a Packer winter hat (like dad!), a Look and Find book, and a mouse coding game (dad's pick!).  Eleanor got an Elsa/Frozen ornament, an outfit, a Princess magnetic doll book, a new water bottle, and a cabbage patch doll.  Isla got a 1st Christmas ornament, a sleeper, a new sippy cup, some new board books, and a carseat toy.  She was not really into opening gifts this year, so the kids opened hers for her.  Brad got Marquette tickets and I got an Instant Pot!  So fun!

Adorable baby in her Christmas jammies!!! <3 i="" nbsp="">

Playing Bennett's new game, Outfoxed.  It's a cooperative game which is so fun!

In Oostburg for Christmas we always open gifts and then do appetizer night, which I love and look forward to!  Brad's dad makes a delicious slush drink and hot ham/cheese sandwiches.  The always get the kids (and us!) too many presents but you can tell they love to do it.  Eleanor was very excited to get her own pink camera just like Bennett's!  They also both loved their new hooded bath towels.  Bennett got some Kid K'nex that he plays with a lot already.  He loves to look at the directions and make it exactly, and he also likes to make up his own things.

Visiting Great Grandma

Bennett was absolutely SO EXCITED for Christmas this year and it was just so fun.  He loved helping me decorate the house and tree, make Christmas cookies, and wrap presents.  He was a little sad when it was time to take everything down and is already asking when it'll be Christmas again.  He was so proud to do some crafts and coloring and wrap his own "gifts" for people.  He was VERY excited to find the pickle and has been practicing so he can beat Uncle Casey when we go to GB this weekend to celebrate.  Most mornings, Bennett would wake up, we'd turn the tree lights on, and he would just sit and look at it, or maybe sing Oh Christmas Tree.  It was so so adorable.  This boy gets very excited about special things.  Eleanor liked opening presents and decorating cookies, but she wasn't quite as into things as Bennett was.  Elle and Isla go to bed a little earlier than Bennett lately so we often play games/decorate/etc during his special time with us.

Such a nice Christmas!!!  And now we are all sick with colds/coughs/congestions.......