Christmas 2011

This is going to be a long post with no pictures. All of my pictures are on facebook ( I can't load pics when I'm at work)
We had a great Christmas!
We started our Christmas vacation on December 13th and didn't go back to work until the 26th. We had fun being able to spend almost two weeks together without having to worry about work.
We celebrated Christmas six times!
We started by opening gifts at our house the Sunday before Christmas. Santa couldn't wait to give Kylie her gifts so he made an early stop by our house. Kylie was so excited! She got a a baby doll, shopping cart, tons of play food (Santa went a little overboard), a puzzle, books, a coloring book, and a little zoo set. She wanted to open everything as soon as she unwrapped it.
The Thursday before Christmas, we celebrated with my mom, brother, and his fiance. Kylie got Melissa and Doug play food (a cookie set and a sandwich making set), new rain boots, and books from mom, and a Kylie-size pop up castle from her unkie Ryan and Elyse. She didn't know what to play with first. We of course had to set up the castle and open the food. After yummy breakfast casserole, sausage balls, and helping mom make roll ups for Christmas Eve, we headed home with Kylie's loot. After we got home, we had to set up her castle in her room. We had to do a few changes so it would fit. Sadly we had to move the glider out of her room. Her room doesn't look like a baby room anymore. It made mommy and daddy a little sad, but she loves it.
Christmas Eve morning we had Joe's brother, parents, sister, niece and nephew over. We opened gifts and then ate lunch. I made lasagna and we enjoyed a yummy desert made by his sister. After his family went home, we hung out and took naps.
After naps, we got ready for church. It was Kylie's first Christmas program. We sat in the second row at church and waited for her time to sing. She got up and a nice little boy escorted her up to the stage. The music teacher's helper put her on stage and then it was time to sing. She didn't sing or do the motions, but she sure looked cute up there. She did a good job standing there! We were proud of her for just getting up there and not crying (like the five year old next to her). Next year she will do great! After church we were driving in the car, and she started singing and doing the motions...silly girl :).
Christmas Eve we went to my aunt and uncle's house in Axtell. We normally spend it at my Grammy's house, but she had hip surgery earlier this year and she has been staying with them. It was raining and cold which equals not a fun drive to Axtell. Their driveway is long and only has gravel (not paved). It was very muddy and then we had to walk to the house after parking on the driveway (so that we wouldn't get stuck in the muddy grass). Once inside, the celebration started. It was very crowded, which is not unusual when you have a huge family (and we were missing a few people). We started the night with my cousin Matt's annual reading. He writes the funniest stories which sometimes include family members. After story time, it was time for presents. The gifts were passed out and everyone started opening. Kylie got tons of stuff. She got a three foot sock money (thanks :) to my godmother), clothes, toys, a puzzle, and a day pass to the zoo. She had a blast hanging out with all of her family and did not want to leave.
Christmas morning we got up and headed to my dad's house. We opened gifts and hung out for a little while. Kylie got even more play food, bubble bath (she loves to take bubble baths), and books (she loves to read).
After leaving Dad's, we went to my Grandma and PaPa's (my mom's parents). Kylie got another shopping cart (which is for YaYa's house), a baby doll, a word learning puzzle, and a pink princess windsuit. We hung out the rest of the day and then headed home for dinner.

The next day we went back at work. :(. It was a nice vacation, but like other vacations, it didn't last long enough.


New Year's Eve was uneventful for our little family. We both had to go to work Sunday morning so we stayed home. We spent the night putting away Christmas decorations, eating homemade chicken and dumplings (thanks to pinterest), watching Toy Story 3, and reading books. We watched the ball drop (at 11p our time) and went to sleep.


We are ready for 2012!
Some things we are looking forward to this year:
Joe turns 30 (he is not really excited about this)
Kylie turns 3
We are planning another vacation.