Merry Christmas One And All

We hope that your Christmas Season has been a great one. We'd like to share a few pictures with you of the last couple days! Here are some pictures of the kids all dressed up on our way to church on Sunday!

We had all of the Ashfords (those living in the Austin area) over last night for our annual Christmas Eve bash.

First we ate yummy food and then we even had a little concert. (See Regan's blog for a short video of this musical moment!) Michael played his violin alone and in a duet with Kelsey. Kelsey also played a song alone on the piano and so did Tanner and Bridget. Paige danced and conducted the music for us. It was a nice little concert. Before we started opening presents Kelsey read to us from Luke of the birth of our Savior.

We started the night with our tradition white elephant gifts. This was something that Christopher asked about weeks ago--if we were going to do the elephant game at Christmas. It look me a little while to know what he was talking about.

As everyone opened their new Christmas pajamas, they headed off to the bathroom to put them on before their next turn to open a present. Here is a picture of my kids opening a present from Uncle Rick, Aunt Sherry, Gramma and Grampa Ashford and Nana. Really they were just reading a letter telling them that their present was a trampoline and was in the back yard in a box. They were so excited (see before for assembly pictures). After opening presents we sprinkled reindeer food on the grass and headed off to bed!

Christmas morning started around 6:15 am when I heard the rustling of little feet upstairs. Everyone was so hyper. We first had to wake up dad and Paige. I'm not sure either one of them were really ready to get out of bed. Before anyone can look at the presents or the things Santa brought, I make them take a picture on the stairs.

Then the opening began. Everyone got fun Santa gifts--Legos for Michael and Tanner, a new chair for Kelsey, a globe for Christopher, a doll and accessories for Paige and a castle for Danielle. Paige spent most of the morning playing with Danielle's castle.

Uncle Rick and Aunt Sherry came over for lunch and the trampoline assemble. We were very impressed the Mike and Rick actually pulled out the instructions for this project. It took them about two and a half hours to put it together. Sherry, Nana and I were not sure who was having more fun the big kids or the little kids.

After the assembly, Uncle Rick sat everyone down and went over the rules of usage for the trampoline. Then everyone hopped on for the first official bounce. Thank you again to those of you who contributed to this big and wonderful present. It's already been used for hours today and I'm sure many more to come. Holly thanks you too because now people will have a reason to come into the yard and play!! Merry Christmas Everyone!!