White House Events: Christmas Shenanigans

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We were able to spend time with the Haackes and the Whites and great memories were made.

Christmas Eve

We decided to change things up a bit this Christmas Eve by doing a service project for the Food and Care Coalition with the White Family. We made about 10 ready to heat and eat casseroles. We split the ingredients of the casseroles up among the family and then got together Christmas Eve morning and put them together.

Savannah and Josh cutting up cooked chicken. Who knew they were so handy in the kitchen?

Maddie, Jessica and Amy (Jessica's friend) helping with the chicken.

Jaxon stirring in melted butter into all the cracker crumbs.

The whole gang with the finished products. After we finished, everyone delivered them to the Food and Care Coalition and then went to lunch. After lunch they went to see the latest Star Wars movie Rouge One.

I stayed home and got to hangout with this cutie. His mom stayed and Grandma's house because his little brother Mason was sick, and his dad went to the movie with the big kids. So it was just the two of us. We watched Curious George, ate lunch, read Christmas books and took a nap.

Later that night we went to Grandma White's house for dinner and Christmas games as well as exchanging gifts.

After all the kids put on their new pajamas that Grandma White had made for them, we played games. For one of the family games we played our own version of "Watch Your Mouth". We had to insert dental mouth guards into our mouths and then say Christmas phrases while our teams tried to guess what it was we were saying. It was funny and entertaining!

We also did the traditional $5 gift exchange game. Above Kayden is choosing which gift he should open.

Christmas Morning

We had church at 1:00, so we stayed home Christmas morning and it was wonderful. We had a nice time opening gifts and having Grandma and Grandpa White som

The majority of our Christmas this year was in the form of a refinished basement. We decided to make better use of the space down there. The boys slept down there Christmas Eve night. They were pretty excited to have the basement done in time for Christmas. They were all set to head upstairs and see what they got for Christmas.

Another view of the basement.

Suki with a Christmas bow. I don't think she liked it too much though.

Josh and Kayden opening presents as well as the boys all opening a family gift.

McKay and Jaxon opening presents. Jaxon and his Spurs. McKay got money toilet paper and a money blanket. I got some odd looks and stares from him. What do you get a teenager??

Kayden with all the presents he received this year. He had a great Lego Christmas and spent the following days after Christmas building Lego sets.

Jaxon's Christmas was basketball themed. He got a few Spurs things and also some new basketball shoes.

Josh received a wide variety of gifts. He will be kept busy for a long time!

McKay also received a variety of gifts from a new shaver to a doughnut maker.

After opening presents, McKay laid down on his new blanket and took a nap!

Jaxon explaining the gifts he got for Christmas.

What Kayden got for Christmas.

Josh's Christmas.

McKay shows his gifts.

Family Gifts--in addition to the basement.

Jeremy's Christmas.

I was also spoiled this year.

The Day After Christmas

The day after Christmas Jeremy and the boys went skiing and then we got together with all the Haacke's that could make it (we missed the New Jersey family) and exchanged gifts with the cousins and gave to and received gifts from Grandma and Grandpa. It is always great to be together.