Christmas with all the Verdoorns

We waited until the next day to really celebrate Christmas with the Verdoorns so that Matt & Sarah would be there.  First off, was trying to get a family picture taken for Oma and Opa's Christmas letter.  We, of course, had to have a silly one as well!  After nap time, was presents and then our yummy traditional Dutch meal (which I'm not even going to try and spell).  Fun day!

the "serious" one

and the silly one...Jake might be my favorite part of this picture

entertaining themselves in the basket of wrapping paper while others opened gifts

Opa is going to take care of those pesty raccoons!

opening a box of styrofoam peanuts from uncle Matt & aunt Sarah...they made a mess but the kids loved them!

"helping" Opa open his gift

snuggling with aunt Sarah and her new stuffed animal from uncle Jake

Jackson's new parking lot for his cars

after the kids were asleep, we played some games of dice...Matt got the best roll possible, six 1's!

Christmas Day!

We try hard to balance the true meaning of Christmas with the fun of Santa and it's been fun to watch Sophie especially, be just as excited about both stories.  Every year is more and more fun as she starts to get it.  Jackson still didn't understand what was going on but loved opening presents! We opened Santa gifts at home and then took our gifts over to Oma and Opa's house and let them open them there.  Lots of pictures because I couldn't narrow them down...

Sophie seeing the Santa gifts for the first time

SO excited about the note that Santa left them

by her stocking...still waiting for Jackson to wake up!

with her Santa gifts

a little excited...

Bailey was trying to figure out what was going on

she couldn't believe that Santa knew she wanted princess dolls!

Jackson is ready to help daddy in the garden in the spring

like father like son (anytime he sees a plaid shirt he calls it a "daddy shirt")

watching a Christmas Story with uncle Jake

excited to open more presents

Sleeping Beauty

blowing out the candles on their birthday cake for Jesus

again, just a little excited!

Sophie got to go with us to Maxwells for the night...she loved it!

Opa came too!

and, before we left, one of her favorites showed up!

Christmas Eve

After church, Opa, Oma, uncle Jake & Derius came back to our house for dinner.  Since we don't host very often, we loved having everyone over (and so did the kids!).  We then got the kids in their new Christmas pajamas (annual tradition) and put together a plate of food for Santa & his reindeer.  Sophie even wrote him a letter.  After the kids went to bed (easiest bed time ever!), Mike and I got busy finishing wrapping gifts!

uncle Jake & Sophie before church

we don't have too many family pictures so I was thrilled that this turned out!

dinner time!

uncle Jake had a couple of kids stuck to him

our kids LOVE Derius and Sophie laughs overtime she sees this picture because they didn't know he was right behind them

another one where they are actually looking at the camera!

church Christmas program

The Pre-K and kindergartners got to sing Away in the Manger during the service.  It was so fun to see Sophie up front for the first time and she didn't show any signs of being nervous.  We are so grateful to have such a great group of little girls for Sophie to play with.  It can make for crazy Sunday mornings but it's so fun to watch!

standing with Ava & Lauren, of course!

Jackson's birthday party

For Jackson's birthday we had our families and a few friends over to celebrate.  He loved his Thomas cake and big balloon (that I think will never deflate!) and loved the attention :)  We can't believe he is 2 already.  He definitely is starting to "show" his independence but can still be easily distracted and calmed down.  He also can be the sweetest little guy on earth.  Sophie is enjoying having him around to play with now that he is old enough and starting to pretend play. It's fun watching them together, except for all the fighting :)

watching aunt Becca decorate his cake with Nana

SO excited!

having dinner with uncle Brian

watching everyone sing to him (I think uncle Jake & Sophie were more excited!)

Addy, Peter & Sophie

getting ready to open presents

it was fun watching him get so excited!

after baths, last few minutes of play time!  what a fun night!

Jackson is 2!

On Jackson's birthday we let him open presents from us and nana, aunt Becca & uncle Brian.  He had so much fun and loved playing with his new stuff!

again, waiting patiently!

first remote controlled car

playing catcher with his own mitt (no more pink & purple Dora mitt!)

He LOVES to help me vacuum and now thanks to Becca & Brian he has his very own Dyson

learning how to drive his car (meaning it usually just went in circles or straight into something while he chased it)

Christmas round 2!

Nana, Aunt Becca & Uncle Brian came up for the weekend for Jackson's birthday.  The first night though, we decided to have be Christmas so they got to open some more presents from them (they opened some while we were in KC for Thanksgiving).   They loved their gifts!

they were waiting so patiently

mini-Princess dolls...quite the hit!

Jackson has his own Tag reader pen, so he doesn't have to steal Sophie's anymore

he was very excited about his white shirts...who knew?!

aunt becca & uncle brian stocked up on crafty stuff for Sophie