Christmas Day 2013

We started out our Christmas morning by opening up presents from Santa and then our gifts to each other.  That was followed by a wonderful Christmas breakfast in the restaurant off the lobby...which overlooks beautiful Lake Michigan that was trimmed with snow!

Jacob opening his Santa present.

The Santa paper is nearly off....

Not quite sure what it is yet...

It's a magic set!

Oooh, look Mom!

Santa brought a smile to Jacob's face with this one!

Chloe opening up her Santa gift, while Jacob investigates his new
magic set in the background.

It's a fashion design set! 

Smiles!

Toms turn to open his Santa present!

"Oooooooooh!"

New swimming goggles, "Spit" (for goggles), and a swim chamois!

Gift for Jacob from Chloe - TURBO! Vroom, Vroom!

Turbo DVD and mini-figure from his sister!

Chloe opening her Santa present...

Wait for it....

SMILES!

3D puzzle of the Brandenburg Gate in Germany!  Chloe is learning
German this year and she was very excited to see a little piece
of the country she's learning the language of.

Tom opening his present from Pam.

Jacob is sharing his Turbo figure with Daddy while he's opening his present.

Tom reading, "The U.S. Navy Seal Guide to Fitness & Nutrition
and Navy Seal Fitness books!"

Here's to a healthy new year of buffness and beefing up!

Next present....

Contraptions....

Get that paper outta here!

Hmmm...is that all the paper?

Oooh, this is going to be a lot of work...

Back to Turbo.

Chloe opening up her present from Jacob.

"Boy, he's a good wrapper!"

LOVE IT!

Monster High nail decorating kit.  Cool!

Tom getting into the Peanuts box...what's inside?

A Snoopy eyeglasses holder from the kids!

It's soooo awesome!

"Dad...this is what you do...here...like this...."

Super smiley over Snoopy!

Chloe opening up her chocolates from Grandma Jo!

Christmas Eve 2013

On Christmas Eve we celebrated the holidays by going to the water-park during the day and at night, having a chicken dinner, watching Christmas movies, opening some presents from Tom's mom, having hot chocolate with marshmallows, and setting out milk and cookies for Santa before bed!

Chicken dinners and Frosty the Snowman!

Jacob is so goofy...I think he's trying to see the TV on the wall above the fireplace behind me OR he's doing a regal pose to show the world how royal he can be in his Christmas pj's!  :P

Present from Grandma Jo...he doesn't know just yet what it is.

NOW he knows...POKEMON CARDS!  YAY!

Chloe...Chloe...Chloe...LOOK!

I think if he was any more excited his head would explode!
Loving the cards, Grandma!

Hmmm...who is this from??

Grandma Jo gift to Jacob with a nice note!

Off with the paper, please....

Oooh!  A book to read! Score!

Lots & Lots of Monster Trucks from Grandma Jo!
He's been waiting SOOOO long for this one!

Eyeball Collector (book) and Lots & Lots of Monster Trucks from Grandma Jo!
Yippee!

Look Dad!!

This is so awesome! Monster trucks!

Archery set from Grandma Jo!  Jacob says, "It's just like in camp...except at camp we had pointed tips,
no suction cups, and the target wasn't a board, it was a real target."  LOL...yup...just like at camp!  Hehehe.

Loving the archery set!

Headbands from Grandma Jo for Chloe.

Opening carefully....

Hair chalk from Grandma Jo!  Yay!

Umm....I don't know what these are....YET!  They're big slippers from Grandma Jo!

New pink slippers from Grandma Jo!

Chloe's feeling a bit like the stepsisters in Cinderella....they're too small!  Mom's fault for telling Grandma the wrong size...little did Mom know that Chloe's feet grew a lot since her last pair of shoes...about 2 sizes!!

Pretty purple sweater from Grandma Jo.

Present from Tom's mom for him and I when we have "down time".

Yup...that's about the only time there is down time!  LOL.

Hot cocoa with marshmallows on Christmas Eve!  Yummy!
This was a big hit with the kiddos!

Our travel tree, with notes for Santa from the kids and cookies!
The milk is going in later so it doesn't go bad!