Our First Christmas Eve Home

Many tries with the timer feature!

 

 

 It was so nice to spend our first Christmas Eve at home, starting our own family tradition. We enjoyed going to the candlelight service at our church followed by a fun night unwrapping gifts. Finley enjoyed her first Christmas even though she woke up that morning with her first ear infection.

Drake enjoying some sparkling cider.

Trash Pack backpack to transport all his "garbage goods".

Santa did good! =)

Christmas with the Ruiters'

We had some time enjoying the new snow and went sledding. Finley and I stayed where it was warm, but Drake had a blast.

Christmas with Traetow's Side

We had a great Christmas relaxing and seeing our family. The weather made the ride home interesting, but feel very blessed again this year.

Brock's Christmas Work Party and Santa..Again

Brock's work had a family Christmas party for the kids. Drake had a blast seeing Santa and playing games.

Gifts from Santa!

Santa always drives around our neighborhood in the fire truck.

Drake turns 5!

Can't believe Drake turned 5 on the Dec. 13th. Seemed like yesterday he was born and has brought nothing but excitement (and some exhaustion) to our lives. Drake enjoys going to school and has taken more of an interest in learning. He's full of questions and recalls/repeats everything that comes out of our mouths. We've now resorted to spelling things out and will be sorry when he can break this code.=)

Having a December birthday is a lot of excitement packed into an already busy month. Drake and his buddy Dillon went to Build A Bear to celebrate his big day. It was a lot of fun.

Thanksgiving and Finley is 6 months.

We are all very thankful for everything life had to offer us this year. Our family is now complete and more crazy than every.  November was busy with conferences and being at work for over a month now. Blogging was a little easier when I was on leave.

Finley is more active than ever. She's weighing in at over 20 pounds. She's in the 95th percentile for weight and head circumference. Drake was also like this and now his clothes seem to fall off of him. She seems to be busting the seems on some of her outfits. Gives me reasons to shop=) She "popped" two bottom teeth and continues to explore the different tastes of Step 1 Baby Food.

The Santa Express and Christmas Concert

 We were excited to go to Boone and take a ride on "The Santa Express". We loaded the kids in their pjs and jumped on the train towards The North Pole. The ride was full of adventure and excitement. Even getting our own bell from Santa.

Enjoying some hot cocoa with the "North Pole" in the background.

Drake sharing that the town he was from was Iowa and he wanted a recycling truck for Christmas!

 

 

It was so much fun that Finley was out cold!

Drake also had his Christmas concert for school and church. Such a busy week!

Drake and his teacher..Ms Nadine

Drake's friend Ava from school. Don't mind the Kool Aid mustache.

Oh Christmas Tree...

We went out for our 2nd Annual "Cutting Down the Christmas Tree Event". We were smarter this year and went to tag our tree the week before Thanksgiving. Drake and Fin both enjoyed adventuring out in the great unknown of the tree farm.

We also met Santa a couple times. Both kids took in the whole experience and had no tears. Drake asked for legos and more garbage trucks. I'm pretty sure we own all garbage trucks from Santa's workshop.