Collins Family Christmas 2010

Later Christmas Day, the Collins clan started showing up at our house to start our Christmas festivities. By then, everything was covered in snow and it was still coming down! My mom was beyond excited (especially once Sarah and Jason got back from their trip safely) since she is one of the world's biggest snow lovers! Let Collins Family Christmas begin!

The required belly shots of Jack and Caroline!

The cousins: Penelope, Anna, and Nia

Nellie and Papa

Jason had WAY too much fun injecting his turkey before it met it's fate in the frier. That needle was HUGE!

While waiting for dinner to cook, everyone headed outside to play. Anna finally got to try out her new car...

...but was equally content letting Nia drive so she could ride and eat snow!

The Turkey Friers...or should it be Friars?

Aunt Erin even came over to join in the insanity!

After a yummy dinner, we packed into the den to open presents.

Anna loved her new princess PJs and her Belle Polly Pocket.

Nia was super excited about her new jacket, scarf, and toboggan from Mimi and Papa.

After opening presents, we headed outside again and roasted marshmallows for s'mores and Mom fixed snow cream. Who knew Bailey's was so good in snow cream?

Yummy!

I am so blessed to have such an amazing family and feel so fortunate to have been able to share such a special time with all of them. I love you all!

Christmas at the Heges

After the excitement of Santa coming died down a little at home and Anna had time to try on ALL her new costumes, we got dressed and headed over to Nannie and Pops' house. We knew it was supposed to snow, so we were eagerly waiting!

When we got there, Anna discovered that Santa had come to Nannie and Pops' house, too! He brought her a new Dora house that changes with the seasons! It even had a bed to put Dora to sleep in. Anna was so excited!

Santa also brought her a Ladybug counting game.

Then we looked outside and it had started to snow! Anna had to try to catch some snowflakes with her tongue!

Anna was the gift elf, helping Nannie and Pops hand out presents.

Nannie and Pops got her a cornhole board like Daddy's!

Aunt Judi and Uncle Bren got her a new room for her dollhouse, complete with flat screen TV!

Aunt Erin got her a Dora tennis racket!

You are so fun, Aunt E!

...and duck slippers!

Here's Nana getting ready to open her new Keurig coffee maker!

Anna had all these new toys, but of course had the most fun with a box that Uncle Bren cut an eye hole in. She thought it was hysterical!

Before lunch, Anna and Daddy went out and played in the snow. We were all so thankful for our white Christmas!

Christmas Morning

On Christmas morning, Will and I got up about 7 and were able to fix coffee and read the paper before someone stirred about 7:30. Someone must have been a good girl because Santa had definitely come!

The first look

Santa's spread

Checking out the stocking

Snow White named her hamster Sweet Tea

Santa brought something for Miller and Murphy, too!

Beautiful Ariel

Stunning Belle

Taking Belle for a ride in her gymnastics leotard

This gives new meaning to "sleeping in your car"!

We changed outfits many times that morning, but we had one happy little girl on our hands! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we met Nannie, Pops, Nana, and Erin at our church for their new family-centered service. It was a precious impromptu Christmas pageant with the Christmas story and carols. Perfect! I had no idea that Anna would be old enough to be in it, but when I asked if she wanted to, she emphatically said, "Yes!". She didn't even look back when it was her turn to go get her costume on.

Now I realize that due to being 9 months pregnant, I am hyper-emotional and prone to crying. However, I was not prepared for the rush of emotion when I saw Anna march out in her little angel costume. I lost it! I mean, ugly cry and everything. She was so proud of herself and kept waving at us and saying, "I can see baby Jesus!". It was so cute!

The proud angel

After the service we went to Erin's for a delicious dinner of salad and lasagna and dessert.

Then we headed home to get ready for Santa! Greg and Michelle were already in Winston keeping Harley and Riley for Sarah and Jason, so they met us at the house to hang out for a little while. Anna decorated her cookies and got the milk ready for Santa. Then we all went to bed to rest up for the big next day!

A Birthday Party for Jesus

On the Thursday before Christmas, a friend of mine had the precious idea of having a birthday party for Jesus at her house to help remind the kids about the true meaning of Christmas. Becky is that friend that all of us have that comes up with the cutest things, whether it be cooking or crafts, and could out-do Martha herself if she really wanted to. These friends are dear to us but make all of us feel slightly inadequate from time to time (however, I digress). Anyway, despite this quality (ha), she has become a dear friend and the best part is that she lives right around the corner in our neighborhood. She and Nicole are the ones that wouldn't give up getting me to MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and for that I will be forever grateful.

We met at Becky's that morning and Jeremiah was so excited that "the two Annas" were coming over (Nicole has an Anna, too). Becky had made homemade cinnamon rolls the day before (told you), so the moms munched on breakfast and sipped coffee while the kids played for a little bit. Then, the action started.

Becky found the cutest nativity craft for the kids to do. With some simple small clay pots and some wooden balls, craft paint, and burlap, they made Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. So cute!

Then we took turns blindfolding the girls so they could play "pin Baby Jesus in the stable". Jeremiah was content to just watch the girls be silly.

Finally, we baked some sugar cookies and let the kids decorate their birthday cookie with icing. We all sang "Happy Birthday" and talked about why we really have Christmas. It was such a fun morning!