Sunday, December 28, 2008

Merry Christmas!
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Christmas: Celebration #1

Christmas with the Parks'
My brother and his family finally made it up on Sunday after patiently waiting for typical winter weather to pass through on Saturday. So, Monday night we raced over to my parents house after work to celebrate our Christmas together before they had to go home on Tuesday. My favorite part of Christmas is just spending time with my family. My whole family. Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, 2nd Cousins, In-laws and Out-laws. After all, Love was born on Christmas.
Kyla was cold so she cuddled up with Grandpa and a warm blanket.
Here are the grandchildren.
Kyla (4), Judaya (10), Will (3), Colton (2), and Max (8 mos)



Grandma and Grandpa with all of the grandchildren.



The Abrahamson Family



The Parks Family



Here's Gigi with all of her Great-Grandchildren.





Here we go!



As Christmas was approaching I kept asking Kyla what she wanted for Christmas. Her answer was always the same, "A Pliano and a baby." Piano? Where did that come from? So, I focused on the baby request. "Kyla, you have a hundred babies." Well, Auntie Justina had also heard this request. So, when Kyla opened her gift of a talking baby, she says, "But I have a hundred babies!" What a lucky little girl!





Here's Judaya with her new Tinkerbell bag complete with a pad of paper and a pen.




And little Max. He's trying so hard to grab onto these books.



Colton is really getting into this present thing.





Here's Gigi opening one of her gifts. I had found this and instantly thought of Gigi. She loves Cardinals.



Grandma MariBeth made this really cool box and filled it with paper, markers, pens, and stickers. Kyla LOVES to make pictures. And to her an artist is someone who does a really good job, so after she makes a picture she'll ask, "Am I an artist, Mom?" To which my answer is always, "Absolutely!"
I think she likes it!


Here is my brother opening one of his gifts from us. I had these pictures I had taken of the kids back in August. They were too cute not do anything with them so, I did a little monkeying around, printed, and framed them.

Here they are:


I know!! They're so cute!!! And besides, who doesn't love pictures of their own kids?!






Grandma made Kyla this beautiful ivory night gown and blue bathrobe (she'd been asking for a bathrobe for weeks). As my mom goes to pull Kyla towards her for a picture, Kyla says with a perfectly straight face, "Don't touch the princess." WELL!





Colton found a wonderful box to play in!

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Christmas: Celebration #2 - Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve
Every year since I can remember we have gone to my Aunt Lana and Uncle Frank's house. It's one of my favorite traditions. All of us kids always had such a good time playing together. Now, it's even more fun to watch our own children play together. If only my brother and his family could be there...
When my Uncle was growing up he had this train set that he just loved to play with. He thought the kids would a get a kick out of it, if he put it up for Christmas. Boy, was he right. Then kids couldn't take their eyes of it!
My Aunt and Uncle have this Boston Terrier (Spot) who does a really great job of stealing cookies from little kids' hand. So my mom was trying to tell the kids to keep their hands up and then Spot couldn't get their cookies.


Here's my mom playing with the newest member of the family - Paityn Lucille Knoke.




My cousin Keith and his beautiful wife, Tiffany (parents of Trey and Paityn).



My cousin Hannah, her husband Nic, and daughters Jessika and Emma. They also have Rueben, but he's off somewhere with his chainsaw.

Here's Rueben!




And Grandma is trying to settle the latest squabble between Rueben and Colton.





My cousin Hannah made these cool blankets for the kids that fold up into a pillow. Colton was really excited about it!






Dad got the clapper! I can't wait to see him turn off the lights!






Gee, Colton with a cookie in his mouth. Huh.





All the kiddos.
Emma (6), Rueben (22 mos.), Kyla (4), Paityn (4 mos), Colton (2) Jessika (8), and Trey (20 mos)
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Christmas: Celebration #3 - Christmas Day

Oh my!! What did Santa bring? A workbench for Colton (he LOVES his tools) and a "Pliano" (as Kyla calls it)!! Colton has been "fixing" everything in sight and Kyla has come up with more and more songs on the "pliano".
YEAH!!!



And the stockings!!



Kyla loves those Hallmark cards that play music. We got her one that sings, "Frosty the Snowman." She was so excited when she opened it! She exclaimed, "I know this song!" And then proceeded to sing along with the card.

Kyla loves to play with Mommies necklace so we thought she should have one of her own. It's a silver heart with her name engraved on it, along with a little gold cross.






And Daddy got a new camera!


It was so fun to watch the kids open their gifts. They took turns helping each other open all the packages.





A princess book from Uncle Erik and Aunt Kate! I LOVE princess stuff!!





OOOH!! A truck book from Uncle Erik and Aunt Kate.



"Merry Christmas!"




Later that day...
Celebration #3




We had the grandparents over for dinner. Usually Uncle Dan, Aunt Sara and the kids join us, but Aunt Sara was on call for Christmas so they couldn't come over. We had a great time. The kids were loaded up on sugar and ran around like crazy people. Colton couldn't seem to stay away from the sweets. We enjoyed a stuffed pork loin, asparagus, honey ginger carrots, bacon ranch potatoes, and rolls. And for dessert, Cherry berries on a cloud. Nummy! Then we all gathered in the living room, wine in hand to open our gifts.




Colton wants to play with his new car so badly, he walks it over to Grandma for help getting it out of the package. Good luck with that one, Grandma!




Poor Abby just wanted a nice soft place to lie down. She finally finds an unoccupied place on the floor and rests her tired head on Grandma's foot. Such a princess.




"MOM!! MY OWN 'PUTER!"





And for Dad, an Electric Fillet Knife! Let's see, he and his father just got back from their annual Father and Son fishing trip up north. Something tells me there's a story here...



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