On the 23rd, the kids exchange gifts with each other. On the day after Thanksgiving, they draw names for who they will buy for. Once they buy their present it goes under the tree with "From ____" so no one knows until the 23rd who bought for who.
This year, Regan had Lauren. She picked out some miniature perler/melting beads (that you iron) and a small book of complicated designs. It's really cute!
Benjamin got Hudson this year. He got him some playing cards for a game (so he can play with Benjamin and Tyler) and a Starbucks gift card. He was more excited about Starbucks this time...haha!
Katherine bought for Regan.
She bought her chocolate covered acai berries, Air Pictionary, and the Procreate app for her iPad. They had so much fun buying in America this year and each did such a good job getting what they had in their heads for the amount of money that they had.
Lauren bought for Benjamin (and was so excited to give him his gift) She got him so much because she went shopping at McKay's used bookstore and her money went on forever it seemed)
She bought him several characters for Skylanders and for Disney Infinity and...
(the dogs wanted a gift)
...and a book about dog breeds.
Hudson bought for Katherine. He bought her a book that she's been wanting to read about surviving a shark attack and some craft supplies.
These puppies are so spoiled :)
Katherine working on her gingerbread house from Granddad and Mammy.
It's Christmas Eve, and it's snowing!!!
Looks like we might have a white Christmas.
The kids are bundling up to go play in their first real snow :)
They are just a little excited :)
Katherine wants to go sledding. I told her that she can use the cardboard boxes.
Regan's snow angel
Lauren's snow angel
Katherine's snow angel
I missed Hudson's because he wasn't going to lay down in the snow too long ;)
It's amazing that we already had this much snow after about 45 minutes...
Look at that smile!! I have never seen such excitement!
They wanted to start a snowman right away.
It was snowing so hard that even after getting their snowmen built the grass was completely covered again.
happy and cold...the wind!
Katherine secretly preparing her arsenal of snowballs
Regan, Lauren, and Hudson working together
We found some marbles in the garage that they could use as eyeballs.
We had just bought a bag of big carrots! I'm so glad we had them.
Hudson tried one more snow angel.
Regan's second snow angel :)
Katherine wanted to make her own snowman. I love the hair :)
Their finished snowman.
group picture
Selfie...pictures were not easy. It was so cold that it often didn't read my finger, and it also was very wet from the falling snow. The pictures get blurrier as we go along because of the falling snow on the lens.
Katherine eating her snowball.
The puppies were going crazy at the window wanting to come out. I'm sure they are trying to figure out what this white stuff is...our little tropical puppies.
Shadow ran so fast in it! He looked like he really enjoyed it!
Jonathan came out to join us for a little bit :) Benjamin had a little cold and didn't really want to come out while it was still snowing.
The kids and the dogs were completely covered!
I came in before the kids. My hands were frozen and it was a perfect time for some hot chocolate!
They finally came in! She's got more whipped cream than hot chocolate ;)
Enjoying their hot chocolate with some added peppermint sticks.
After playing in the snow, the kids opened their ornament from us. Hudson's is an ice airplane with three penguins inside.
Lauren's is an eskimo and ice eskimo sculpture with a white dog looking through the face.
Benjamin's is Charlie Brown carrying a Christmas tree.
Regan's is a Bear and penguin sharing a red velvet cake.
Katherine's is a bunny is a red wooden sled.
Jonathan and I open our gifts on Christmas Eve. Hudson took Jonathan's phone to take pictures. He was cracking me up!
A mickey Christmas blanket and new pj pants :)
I think this might be my favorite gift. It's so cute! It's a small stocking filled with Dove dark chocolate.
Jonathan got a new UT hat.
Katherine pouring the milk for Santa.
Shhhhhhh! Santa has come!
