The stockings were hung...
We got new stockings this year! I've always wanted all matching stockings that were personlized and simply couldn't resist these! They were quite reasonably priced at $15 (including embroidery).
Every year for my entire life we've celebrated Christmas Eve with my dad's side of the family. Our family is too big for any one home, so we celebrate at a church now. The following pictures were taken there.
Alex, Avery and Asher beginning the kids' white elephant gift exchange:
Below: This is Alex's prized white elephant gift. The knob on the nose "winds up" the eyebrows and mustache so they move.
Jenn and Fred were really excited about Avery's new trucks! (So was he.)
After the Christmas Eve event with Grandma Baker, we went to Rob's parents' house and stayed the night there. We open all our gifts there and his parents spoil us all nearly rotten. Here is Olivia in a pile of presents:
Ashlie was soaking in the moment just prior to open her gifts:
Grandma Jackson helped Avery open his gifts and kept him entertained and happy. He didn't sleep much without his own bed and was, consequently, less pleasant than his usual self.
Ashlie and Alex tearing open their packages:
Olivia and Ashlie enjoying their gifts:
Grandpa Jackson and Avery:
Alex desperately wanted a remote-controlled helicopter. It was broken within an hour or two. :(
I love the way Avery crouched down to be like Nick and Alex here:
Avery got a baby doll for Christmas. I believe that kids (even boys) should learn to be nurturing and baby dolls are great for helping them learn to nurture. He pretends to be the baby's daddy and it's super cute.
This is the second year my side of the family has celebrated Christmas on the day following Christmas. It makes Christmas day a little less hectic and prolongs Christmas a tiny bit longer. Here are some pictures from our December 26 event. Avery got this cute Snoopy puppet which he's been carting around ever since.
My mom, the host of the Miller party:
Olivia and her cousin, Emma, love their new pajamas that match their dolls'. My mom got all the kids and grandkids new jammies for Christmas this year. I always wanted new pajamas for Christmas and this year I got some! Thanks, Mom!
Just cute:
My sister Aubrey, her son, Asher, and Mario:
My boys in their hats:
Poor little Ashlie came down with a fever immediately following present opening on Christmas day. She was pretty miserable and had a high fever every time the Tylenol or Ibuprofen wore off. Today I got her to the doctor and she has strep. Here she is snuggling with Grandpa Miller.
This is some Crayola artwork my sister Jenny created to send to my nieces and nephew in South Carolina who couldn't be with their father, my brother, this year because his ex is completely unreasonable and wouldn't let them come for their court-designated Christmas visit early to take advantage of substantially lower travel expenses. They are too young to understand and he is heart-broken. So are we.
More just cute:
Olivia and Emma helped with dishes:
