Navidad

Christmas 08 was wonderful!

As always, it was so nice to be with family and celebrate.

In this post I've included photos from Christmas day*, there are so many more from the week that will come in a later post, but for now enjoy a play-by-play of Schmale Christmas...

We open one gift on Christmas Eve-ning every year. Yay for pajamas from the grandparents this year (no Ben's pants are not real blue jeans, but he does intend to wear them to school as such.)

Here's a collage of Christmas gifts shots. Can you believe we have that many gifts under our tree? I'm so so blessed. Unfortunately I wasn't sitting at an angle where I could get good photos of the grandparents, so here are some of everyone else opening presents.

Two women I adore

Oh and a third! Who told Grandma she could put on normal clothes while we all stay in pajamas?

This shot represents a ridiculous Schmale tradition. Every year we open our gifts one at a time in order of age. So it takes hours, but we love to savor every moment. As we finish up opening Rachel, Dad & Ben ALWAYS compete to have the final gift - generally this involves hiding something small until everyone is finished opening and pulling it out for the win. In these photos Rachel rejoices surprising everyone**

Finally, one of my favorite Christmas traditions is these little ones. Christopher has been coming over on Christmas morning every year since he was 10 living down the street from us. After his family finished opening their gifts on Christmas morning he would ride his bike over and join ours. Now Chris is married with two kids and you better believe they still join us. Here's Kaley, Cooper, Chris and Suzie. She's just so stinking adorable!

Ben pulled out his toy cars from when he was 3 to play with Cooper. Wasn't it yesterday that Ben was 3 playing with those cars?

Mom and dad got the kids new books this year.

So that's it - A Schmale Christmas morning. I hope you enjoyed the show.

Tune in soon for more Christmas holiday festivities (family photos - woo woo).

js

*Not included in the Christmas day gallery:

2 movies this year, ladies and gentlemen - Marley and Me & Bedtime Stories

Christmas dinner - always amazing

Grandpa - of whom I didn't managed to get any Christmas day pictures

**turns out Ben hid a gift for the win. He even stooped as low as to send Grandpa to the car to look for the missing gift he assumed had been left on accident. Congrats, brother!