Post-Christmas Photo Overload

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas!  Isn't it hard to believe how quickly it is over after a month (or more) of buildup and excitement?  I spent yesterday dealing with the aftermath - sorting and putting away the way too many gifts we received and taking down and putting away all the Christmas decorations.  I am thankful I only put out seasonal/holiday decorations once/year...that's enough for me!  However, my living room looks so drab and bare without all the pretty Christmas things.  But I digress...I know all you really want is to see my Christmas pictures.  I'll just torture you with my favorites and not every one (though it may seem that way) that I took. :)

Every year, Brandon wraps only one present for me.  The rest he puts in bags.  However, the one he wraps, he wraps with scraps of paper leftover from other wrapping jobs.  This year, he even made a scrap bow.  I had to open this present before we even ate dinner on Christmas Eve - why - because it was a new camera...he figured I'd want that for the rest of the gift festivities later in the evening.

Here is Luke, anxiously wanting me to hurry up and take the darn picture so he could start opening his presents.

Ginger liked her present too.

Brandon and Ginger posing so nicely so I could try out my new camera.

This one is Luke taken - so a little shaky, but we were so excited about the present he made us for a gift, that we wanted a picture.  It's a tree ornament with reindeer painted on...so cute.  That's one I'll treasure every year when I put up the tree.  Have I said how much I love his teacher this year...this is yet another reason.  How sweet and thoughtful to help the kids make a present for their parents.

Luke posing with his new real football that Santa brought.  Thanks to the nice weather, he got to spend some time out in the yard throwing it around with whomever he could talk into going out with him.

Brandon's brother went all out in buying us gag gifts this year.  First up, was a "Best of the Brady Bunch" CD for Brandon.  His brother had to apologize...he'd already opened it up & listened to it before giving it.

Next up, was a family-themed gift - Bullhaulers.  If you read my blog about when we traveled to Colorado in July, you might remember that it is a Spaeth family tradition to count bullhaulers when we travel anywhere.  This is Brandon's - "American Bullhauler Assoc. - Ain't No Feelin' Like Cowmobilin'"  Nice.

Me - I'm a "Bullhauler Extraordinaire"

Luke - "My Daddy Says...Ain't No Feelin Like Cowmobilin" and his very own bullhauler (and $20).

Moving on to my parents' house, here is the best picture I could get of the 4 grandkids.  I can't imagine how hard it's going to be next Christmas when we have 2 more to include!

Luke and Brady - future trash collectors?

Ellie and Cooper could not get enough of Ginger.  I thought this picture was just too cute of Ellie trying to love on Ginger.  All day, she and Cooper probably said "I being nice," about a million times when it came to getting some Ginger time.

Kristen forgive me, but this just made me laugh and think of a conversation you had with Cooper earlier in the day: 

Kristen - "Cooper, don't pick your nose." 

Cooper - "Why?"

For some reason, we decided to try to get pictures of the kids together again later.  I'm not sure why - this was the best of my bunch. 

In addition, my parents are also celebrating 40 years of marriage this week!  Happy anniversary, Mom & Dad! 

A final shot from our last Christmas celebration at Brandon's grandma's house.  It was a long, but very exciting and fun-filled day for all of us.  We are so blessed with wonderful families!