Christmas....take 2

We continued our Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a few less people than expected.  The stomach bug decided to hit Christmas Eve morning and stuck around for a few days!  Luckily the kids stayed strong and got to enjoy Christmas despite all the sickness around them!

So....Christmas Eve ended up being Owen, Ava Kate, Josh, and I, but we didn't let it put a damper on things!  We had a relaxing day in our pajamas and spent most of the day in the kitchen making goodies for Santa!

We've always done a Ginger Bread House or a Ginger Bread Train at Christmas, but this year we decided to go with a Rice Crispy Train!  

Owen loved eating all the candies that were suppose to be decorations and Ava Kate really liked pretending to put icing all over the train.  She really thought she was big stuff!!

Another project of the day was making cookies for Santa!  Owen was so excited and wanted to do everything himself!

Such a big boy...

So yummy...

After a day of lounging in our pajamas and preparing goodies for Santa, we decided to get out of the house and go look at Christmas lights....

Our favorite lights were in Marion.  The lights were all coordinated to music and Santa and Mrs. Clause where there too!!  Owen loved watching the lights flash to the music and getting to tell Santa his last minute wishes!  Ava Kate seemed to enjoy herself, but I'm not sure she knew what to think of all of it!

Santa and Mrs. Clause

 (aka Uncle Bill and Aunt Becky)

 

When we got home, Owen put out reindeer food....

....and cookies and milk for Santa!!!

Owen was soooooo excited on Christmas morning!! He couldn't wait to see what Santa had brought him....

I guess the kids made it onto the nice list...

There was one present that was too big for Santa to fit in his sleigh, so he left a picture instead...A swing set/playhouse in our backyard!!  Owen spotted the picture first thing, but didn't really understand.  We asked him why Santa brought him a picture of a swing set and he said "because I like pictures"!  We quickly explained, but he really didn't get excited or understand until we got home. Ha! 

Owen pointing out that Buddy the elf was in the swing...

the hot wheels race track was a big hit!

trying out Ava Kate's new toy...

 

our little Santa...

opening one of his FAVORITE gifts....a marshmallow shooter!!!

 he played with this non-stop...Gigi's house had marshmallows EVERYWHERE!!!!  

love this pic...Daddy's little girl!

 a little karaoke...

His own "little" golf set....looks like he and daddy are going to have a lot of fun when it warms up!

Everyone emerged from there rooms Christmas afternoon to exchange presents.  It was pretty low key since everyone was still not feeling well, but we made the best of it!  

Memaw admiring her collage of all her siblings...