Our Christmas Celebration

With our various Christmas celebrations Santa wound up coming on Christmas Eve morning to our house. It was completely unplanned but Daddy decided he should see if he could get him to stop by a little early.

Maddox kinda got the idea of Santa but wasn't 100% sure of what we were talking about. (No, he didn't get the skill saw. That is Justin's that he insisted stayed by the tree) He was pumped to find cars under the tree for him. He adores little match book cars (way to go Santa!)

So we moved forward with all of our stockings and Justin was pumped to see he received a Hawkeye phone cover. Apparently Bear was excited for him as well!

Of course we didn't leave Bear out of the mix. He was spoiled with busy bones and raw hides

 Those 2 are peas in a pod...

I got lucky and got spoiled as well!

After our quick opening we loaded up the car and headed to Iowa to hit up my hometown church Christmas Eve service. We got all dolled up and all 3 of us actually made it through the service this year.

Last year we were NOT so lucky!

One of our best family photos of the night.

After our 2 celebrations in Iowa, we came home Christmas night and finished our family Christmas. Maddox was loving his gifts and didn't want to stop playing with them and keep opening the rest of his presents. He faired pretty well and walked away with a nice wardrobe and a hot wheels track. I like to get a picture of the loot he receives so I can always look back and remember what he opened.... Something my parents always did with us that I had to carry on!

Justin has wanted cowboy boots for the past 2 years.... He found a pair he liked but I couldn't get back to the store to buy them. Instead, I wrapped up a pair of my boots and this picture is him trying to figure out what it means.....

These will go great with his tickets to the Jason Aldean concert in February.

Every year I insist on a family photo in front of the tree. Here is our 2011 shot! I have a frame that I put it in and look back at old photos each time I do it. A few things I love about this particular photo.... notice how all the balls on the tree are clumped together.... thank you Maddox. Also, I am holding Bear back because he wasn't having it. Ahhhhhhhhhh memories!