Pictures...Christmas morning at Werdals...Dec. 25

The first things I saw when I woke up on Christmas morning...taken from my bed:)

Opening stockings...Joey...

Carver...

Nathanael & Brandy...

Dad...

Mom...

Mom got some socks in her stocking...Joey was putting them on her...

When we decorated our Christmas tree I was talking to Benjamin about how they each got a new decoration every year. He said, "So which one is for this year?" I told him he'd have to wait & see. When he pulled his decoration out of his stocking he knew what it was right away & was excited to get home & put it on the tree:)

Manda was thrilled to have numerous pairs of pretty socks in her stocking:)

Kirby just got excited about everything:)

Me with a grumpy look on my face...I really wasn't grumpy:)...I wouldn't have posted this, but I know Cheri really wants to see pictures, so this is for you Cheri...hope I don't scare you too bad:)

And finally...Ben:)

Pictures...Werdal Christmas...Dec. 24

A wonderful turkey dinner...at a table that felt very empty...we missed you all!

One very tired Carver...

And an excited Joey...

Reading the Christmas story...

Listening...

At least the kids were listening:)

Dad kept pretending to doze off when he was reading the Christmas story. The kids got a kick out of tickling him awake:)

Dad asked Manda to help him pass out gifts...

Joey very busy with his new doctor's kit...

Carver trying out his new truck...

A gift for baby...guess who it's from :) (hint: it has elephants on it)...

Every year each of the kids does a craft to give to the Grandpas & Grandmas, Aunts & Uncles...they love giving them:) (Except maybe Kirby this year...he was more concerned that he wasn't opening one...we're working on that:)..)

Manda took the liberty of hanging them on the tree for Grandma:)

The kids were very excited to open their new sleds!

Kids are in bed...now it's our turn:)

Stockings waiting for morning...

Pictures...our Christmas here at home...Dec. 23, 08

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...

Making pizzas before we start presents...

Eating homemade pizza!

Ben's not so surprise, annual hoodie with the kids' pictures on it...

Usually we give the kids pjs & slippers for Christmas, but this year they didn't need pjs so we did housecoats instead...they were thrilled!
The kids wanted to buy gifts for each other this year so we decided to give them each $5 to spend on each other. They were just as excited about those little gifts as ours! It was so fun to see them so excited to give to each other!

Manda gave Benjamin trading cards for his webkinz...

Kirby gave Manda a craft kit....she LOVES crafts!

Benjamin gave Kirby a car from the "Cars" movie...he loved it!

Kirby gave Benjamin a dart gun...once Ben had it set up for Benjamin to use Kirby proceeded to say, "I wish I had one of those!"...

So when Kirby opened his dart gun from Amanda he was thrilled:)...

Benjamin was soooooo excited to give Manda her gift. He had taken the $5 we gave him to spend on her & spent $10 out of his own spending money because he really wanted to get her a webkinz. He had gotten one for his birthday & loved it & he knew she really wanted one....she was THRILLED when she opened it! It was so fun to see Benjamin understand the joy of giving!

All the kids wanted to spend their own money to buy Daddy something he really wanted...Ben was pretty surprised & they were tickled pink...I was proud:)

Just a few random shots...Kirby was super excited about his Nemo storybook...

Manda loved her "princess tent" (that I found for dirt cheap at Value Village I might add:))...

Benjamin was excited about his hot wheels race track.

They were tuckered out by the end of the night though & enjoyed sleeping with their new "friends" (the giant stuffed animals) & quilts they got from Mommy & Daddy.

...AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT! :)