A Long, Picture-Filled Christmas Post...

So, as I mentioned, we spent two weeks over Christmas with my parents.  My brother, his wife and two girls (including a new baby!) live near them.  My younger sister and her family also came into town.  So we had a full house!  Six kids under four!  Periodically we tipped perilously close to chaos, but all the kids were great and enjoyed playing together.

The plane flights were delightfully devoid of major meltdowns or delays (Yay!)  In fact, the whole travel process was down right smooth (thus confirming my preference to avoid driving for at least another year or two....).

We kept the kids busy by frequenting the two children's museums in the area, letting them run unconfined in my parent's huge basement playroom, going on drives to see Christmas lights, and doing the sort of things found in the pictures that follow...

We decorated sugar cookies.

We went caroling to friends.  It was nice and cold outside so we bundled up (complete with Santa hats!) and by the time we headed back home our "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" was sounding pretty good!

The big bearded guy stopped by for a visit.  Compared to two years ago, the kids were decidedly more excited to see him!

The stockings were hung...

Christmas Eve we attempted a Nativity play.  It was mostly a joke, but entertaining to have the kids in their makeshift "costumes".

As always, we had the opening of pajamas on Christmas Eve...

Now, when it came to getting a picture of all the kids in their church clothes... let's just say we have had more successful photo shoots...

But Isaac and Parker thought the whole thing was funny... and eventually they got Emery all riled up also.

We ran around in the church gym one morning in an (successful) attempt to wear the kids out.

And most importantly, we spent lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa (and discovered Parker has a particular affinity for snow globes...)

We had a fun, crazy, festive, memorable and cozy Christmas!

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!!!