Christmas Celebrations!

So much excitement for Christmas, and the kids even kind of slept in- not waking up until about 7! It was a wonderful relaxing morning, taking turns opening gifts to see and enjoy what everyone gets! The kids were so fixed on getting gifts from Santa this year which was so funny to me since we've never really made a big deal about it or talked much about it either. I gave them one gift each that said from Santa just so they weren't completely disappointed, but then Jaxon said Santa forgot to fill their stockings (I've never been a big stocking person), and I said he must have run out... our morning was of course still magical and they got spoiled yet again!

New lego sets for each of the kids

after all the gifts were open it was time for our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of cinnamon buns and egg nog! After which it was an epic lego building marathon!

We spent a relaxing afternoon at home before heading to Oma & Opa's for Christmas dinner with all the Aunt's, Uncles and cousins. Of course more spoiling from Opa and Oma with an awesome remote control lego train set for all the kids and then individual gifts as well. I hardly took any pictures so still have to get some from my mom! 

Hope your Christmas was as blessed and wonderful as ours!!

The days following Christmas were spent playing and building endlessly with lego.

And Alivia got this princess castle from Opa & Oma, she likes it just a little!

One more Christmas celebration with the Tolkamps (Jordan's Mom's side of the family) on the 27th. Always a big gathering with this side of the family and always an enjoyable time, we had a big potluck dinner, a time of sharing highlights from our year, a gift exchange and games. The kids love all the excitement and playing with the cousins (Jordan's cousins that is!)

Alivia turns 4!

I continue to be in disbelief every time one of my children has a birthday and think I will be for the rest of my life! The years are flying by and sweet little Livy is now 4!

She loves gymnastics, and jumping on the trampoline. She's obsessed with ballet and begs me to 'sign her up' for it. She incessantly asks for gum, or candy or snacks. She plays 'mom and kid' with her brothers where she gets to be the mom and bosses them around. She loves to colour and especially colour by number which she could sit and do for hours. We know her as a wild crazy girl but at preschool or in new situations she has a very shy demeanour and I almost wouldn't recognize her!

It's hard with her birthday being so close to Christmas but we try to make a big deal out of her birthday and I think she gets even more birthday days and celebrations than any one else in the end!
December 20 we had her 'Ballet Party', grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins were there, we had yummy snacks, cupcakes and of course birthday presents!

She got a ballet tutu and a dvd which she does just about everyday now!

And a picture I've wanted to get for a few months now... all of my children with the grandparent they were named after. Opa (Doug) with Jaxon Douglas, Oma (Monika) with Zoey Monika, Grandma (Grace) with Alivia Grace and Grandpa (Bill) with Hudson William.

On December 24, we started Alivia's real birthday off with some birthday cake pancakes, covered in icing with sprinkles inside!

We spoiled her with high heel princess shoes, a princess wand and a Queen Elsa dress. She also got Elsa and Anna magic clip dolls and of course a crochet teddy from Mommy, this little sheep she has appropriately named 'Lambie'!

After opening presents she chose to go swimming for her birthday outing, so off to the pool we went with the family! It was Zoey's first time and the other 3 just loved it. Jordan and Jaxon went down the big slide a few times at the end!

We headed to Denny's for her birthday lunch before coming home for a relaxing afternoon.

We went for dinner at Grandma & Grandpa's where we ate way too much yummy food, got to skype with Conrad and Cori while opening presents and singing happy birthday to Alivia. The rest of the evening was spent building new lego and spending time together.

Grandma outdid herself this year with all the beautiful handmade gifts! She made housecoats for Jaxon and Alivia, an apron for Hudson (since she made aprons for the other 2 before). She also made all 4 kids chalkboard placemats which the kids can draw on, she made Zoey a super cute, colourful blanket and a beautiful cross stitch to hang on the wall (which she has made for the 3 older kids when they were born too!)

What a day... and what a year! Excited for all that this year holds for this amazing little girl!