happy christmas

My parents hung around for a few days after our Cowell Family Christmas to spend Christmas day with us! 

I loved having them here to share in all the fun with the boys :) 

I also loved that Christmas Eve was on a Sunday. With the boys still being pretty young, an evening Christmas Eve service just isn't possible right now, so we got to worship in the morning instead.

Last year, I really enjoyed doing the sparkle box with Keaton, so I wanted to keep it, but decided to do it Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning. I thought the excitement of the morning would just be too much. I put it out on Christmas Eve while the boys were with Ryan getting on their jammies. 

Keaton was more than excited to see it back!!

We filled it with slips of paper naming ways we've served Jesus over this last year and, of course, 2 lollipops :) The boys were much more excited for the lollipops, but one day {maybe years and years from now} they'll get it. Traditions have to start somewhere :) 

 Watching a Charlie Brown Christmas :)

Penn was a big sleepy head Christmas morning, so we ended up going into his room to wake him up. All he wanted to do was read Pete the Cat :) I think someone mentioned getting pancakes and he was ready to go down ;0)

Our annual "getting ready to go down the steps" picture :) 

For fun...

2016

2015

WOW! Lots of presents!

 Love my family :)

 It went back and forth between being really busy and chaotic and calm as the boys opened and then played with their gifts.

Keaton was really into unwrapping...so he just wanted gift after gift!

 

 He was a good helper boy too - handing some out...

And then unwrapping those 🙈

This play dough set was a huge hit! Penn ran it right to the table so he could play :)

A little play dough break and breakfast did everyone good and then we opened the rest! 

I mean....if your family room isn't completely trashed can you even call it Christmas?!? HAHA

Maybe next year I'll be in more than 1 picture next year ;0)

The boys took nice naps and then played with Pop-pop and Grammy the rest of the day.

We were sad to see they go, but joyful they could spend that time with us!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day!

Our festivities continued later in the week at Ryan's parent's house!