Journey

Happiness is a Journey, not a destination.


Namaste.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas 2010

Christmas Morning, we were all sleeping soundly...we typically have to wake our children to open presents.  This year, however, the newspaper lady threw the paper so hard, when it hit the front door, Cole thought someone was trying to break in, and Talia thought it was Santa...

Cole had been dozing on the couch (he's always been an early riser), so he sent Talia downstairs to wake the boys, while he gently woke me up.  Then we let the kids check things out...

Talia putting the star on our advent calendar...
From Christmas 2010


The kids get their first look at Christmas...
From Christmas 2010


From Christmas 2010


Talia insisted we open the stockings first....
From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010


Then we let the kids open their presents, one at a time, youngest to oldest...
From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010


From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010


Cosette always joins us...
From Christmas 2010


Talia with her Santa gifts...
From Christmas 2010


A wand and a crown from Grandma and Grandpa...
From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010

(Indy loves the wand...I keep catching him sneaking into her room and trying to carry it off)

After the kids opened all their gifts, Cole and I finally got a turn...

From Christmas 2010


The kids got me a new yoga mat, they were so excited...
From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010


We had a nice, relaxed morning.  We opened up toys for the kids, started picking up the mess, had time to get ready without hurrying....then we headed over to my parents' house for a late breakfast and opening more presents...

From Christmas 2010
(The white balance was set wrong for this pic, but I loved the effect it gave...)
From Christmas 2010


Gracie was soooooo excited about her American Girl doll Kit!
From Christmas 2010


Of course, as the kids started opening their gifts from Nana and Papa, my camera started to die...I really wanted to get Alec's expression for his gift, so I only got a couple of  Talia...and none of Kyle :(
From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010

Alec was thrilled....he hasn't had a new bike since he was 4....(he's been riding Kyle's old one).

After we were done at my parents, we had a little down time.  Cole and Talia took naps, Alec took his new bike for a spin around the neighborhood, then he and Kyle played with their new stuff. 

Later, we headed over to Cole's parents for a yummy dinner and family time...
From Christmas 2010

From Christmas 2010


We also took our first Gilbert family picture in many, many years....since Kyle was 2.  That picture is currently being edited, and I will post that later.  (I have to say, I'm glad to have figured out the photo merge feature of Photoshop...it's hard to get a baby and a 3 year old to look at a camera on a tripod and smile...at the same time!)

It was a great Christmas, and we feel very, very grateful for how blessed our family is. 

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