Christmas 2013

I don’t know what it was about this Christmas but I felt rushed and this blog probably will be no different.  I think we just tried to do too much before and after for me to really stop and appreciate the small things.  I did manage to catch all the happiness of these amazing children of ours in some pictures and even home videos.  The night before Christmas we did all our traditions.  We put out the reindeer food, we read Twas the Night Before Christmas, we watched the Santa Tracker online and we put out milk and cookies.

There is oats and glitter hiding in their somewhere.
 
I was rushing them off to bed since it was super late and I don’t even know now what Easton’s major malfunction was all about.

After we all went to bed, SANTA came!  Again we stuck to the three gift rule for each as the three wise men each gave a gift to baby Jesus.  This year Santa brought two and we brought them one to equal their three each.  The stocking is a bonus from Santa. 



 
Bradley got a super black stealth tricked out bike.  He is getting so big.

Talking about Jesus before we opened our presents. Notice the coffee and banana for quick fuel to get through this.  It was 7 am.

Bradley actually got all B gifts somehow.  A bow and arrow, bike, book bag and Bible.

Bradley loved helping pass out gifts.  Easton loved his new DreamLites.  He loved the ones his cousins had, he was mesmerized by the lights on the ceiling.  I love how easily pleased he is.  Can that please never change! Now I just need to keep working batteries in it all the time.

Real Talkies that they can use now and for a long time for all their “missions.”

A big boy toy for Bubbas.  What do you get a boy who doesn’t need anything?  A gift to share I guess!

Bradley loved his new blue leather Adventure Bible and I hope he continues to cling tight to God’s word. 
 
Sunglasses in the stocking and this boy loves to wear glasses upside down for some reason even though he knows it’s the wrong way. 

Things he asked for from Santa came true!

Our annual Merry Christmas Morning picture!

Woodward Family Photos

These are the results of our two hours taking pictures with all fourteen of us.  This was Mom and Dad’s big Christmas present from all of us.  It was definitely worth the craziness with the kids! We took half on the Naval Academy and the other half in downtown Annapolis on a quaint little one way street.  Not all our perfect but we got some amazing smiles out of the kids.  Not to mention it was cold outside so they were little troopers. 

  

 

Maryland Christmas Trip

The day after Easton’s birthday we drove to Maryland with Mom and Dad too.  The guys had a hunting trip planned in Virginia and Brittany and Stella were able to meet us here.  So, we decided to make a go of it, all 14 people staying in Billy and Devon’s Annapolis apartment on base.  It was spacious enough but with a range of children and it being super cold outside most of the time we have a lot of indoor moments.  Or maybe that is just when I manage to get my camera out.  We had so much fun and it was definitely a trip full of memories that we loved, memories that were funny and maybe not so funny but we are a family and that’s how we do it.  The first day the guys went pheasant hunting and did really great.  Now I have pheasant in my freezer that he is dying to cook and I am avoiding.  When they were out we shopped and took the kids to play. 
 
In the in between outings or before bed the kids watched a lot of movies.  Once they played too loudly we had to settle them down.

This was the first time we all met Stella (except Uncle Brad) so we passed her around and she looked like this 85% of the time. 
Bradley loved loved being a big helper to Stella.  Stella is really cute and she can say all her cousins names in that cute all jumbled up learning to talk kind of way.  It is adorable. 


 
These kids……

Gavin with his bunny ears he puts on everyone now.  Including himself like in the picture below.

We exchanged Christmas gifts after a big Christmas dinner we had.  Brittany spoiled us with lots of cooking and baking. 

 

Mom got all sentimental gifts.  We weren’t messing around!

Opening their gift announcing a family photo shoot tomorrow with all of us. 


After we were done taking the pictures the kids were treated to Starbucks hot chocolate or smoothies.  They did last 2 and a half hours!

I just couldn’t resist this picture of my three handsome little men all decked out in nice clothes sitting around the table and talking like they are wise old souls.
That night after pictures Brit, Devon and I decided to go out and have a night on the town.  We had a wonderful dinner and even better time being sisters.

We went early enough out and back home before the oldest went to bed.  They were waiting for us to get back because Bella and Madelyn had rehearsed for two months a Christmas performance.  They sang and choreographed like four different songs and even had a raffle, etc.  They are amazing brilliant beautiful little girls. 




The cousins had so much fun being together but it wore them out too. 

We were definitely grateful for our time together.  We all left in spurts but we left on Friday evening and were able to drive through to Southern Maryland.  We went to see our friends and my Dad and Kris. 
    
The Woodward and Gautier kids. 

At GrandPop and Grandma’s house.  It always silly over there!!
We headed home Sunday to get ready for Christmas Eve on Tuesday night.