More Christmas 2008

Well, Christmas was not over for us on Thursday. On Friday I finished up some Christmas shopping with my sister and Finley as my family was getting together to celebrate Christmas at our house on Saturday. My mom and dad came down and Chris came back over to have our little Christmas party. My sister Dawn lives in Dallas and wasn't able to come up for Christmas this year. We had a good time. Finley received even more wonderful gifts from Santa and everyone. On Sunday when everyone headed home Finley had some down time to play with his new toys (notice the cute onesie he received from Erin, Jason and Lauren). On Sunday night we decided the Christmas season was officially over for us... mainly because their were more needles on the carpet than our Christmas tree... and we took down our decorations and all. It was time to look into to the approaching New Year and I like a fresh start including getting the house back to normal. There is always a little sadness with the cleaning up from Christmas... this year maybe a little more than usual as we are getting closer and closer to the reality that is deployment. We had a great Christmas (week) and are satisfied that we spent time with family and friends and most important, each other.

Opening gifts with Daddy

Opening Aunt Chris's Gift of wonderful books!!
Playing with Grandma Erika
Bathtime


Trying to get a good Christmas picture

And for those of you looking closely... yes that is spit up all over me courtesy of Finley. Merry Christmas!!

Playing with all the fun new toys!
Howie likes them as well

Merry Christmas!

I started this post on Christmas... things got busy and here it finally is!!

Last night on Christmas Eve we had my sister and our friends Erin and Jason and thier 8 month old daughter Lauren over for some holiday fun! We just had a casual dinner, the kids exchanged gifts and we just relaxed and played with Lauren and Finley. Finley was not in the most jolly of holiday moods for some reason but we had a good time anyway!

Erin with Lauren enjoying her gift wrap

Indicative of Finley's mood on Christmas Eve...

Playing Babies

Wrestling over the Bear


Nate and I exhanged gifts on Christmas Eve. He got an Ipod nano and some accesories and I was suprised by a diamond necklace... I have no pictures of that either!! Well it's beautiful. Finley went to sleep dreaming of Santa, Sugar plums (hah) and bottles (most likely). He woke up re-energized and happier on Christmas Day! Yay!

Daddy playing with Finley after the company had left

Christmas Eve... trying to capture the tree


After a somewhat leisurely Christmas morning (I have no pics from that?) we headed down to Janesville to Nate's parents home to spend Christmas Day with his family... Patti and Greg, Nanny and Pappy and his brother's, sister in law and thier kids. Christmas day was a little chaotic but a lot of fun. To see the kids (3 kids 3 and under) enjoy Christmas was fun. Everyone was ready to relax at the end of a good day, a good meal and good company.

Gavin and Olivia checking out the loot

Grandma Patti and Finley

Favorite activity with Daddy

Packer being Packer

More Bjorn time... in the kitchen

Olivia with Heather and Grandpa Greg setting up her new shopping cart in the background

Finley opening a gift with Nanny


Showing the Christmas Chaos

Taking a bottle with Nanny


Finley's first Christmas was very fun. Santa was very generous this year along with the rest of the family... he received tons of fun new toys and some very cute new outfits!!