Christmas 2011

Christmas this year started on Sunday, December 18th at my grandpa and grandma's in Oelwein. We had a late lunch, let the kids open gifts and then the adults did a white elephant gift exchange. It's always a lot of fun, food and a lot of people!

The morning of Christmas Eve we opened gifts with Payton and Nolan at home. After breakfast Payton asked to watch TV (like she always does). We told her she could either watch TV or open presents. She replied, "YEEEAAAHH!! TEEEVEEE!!" Haha. We proceeded downstairs to open gifts and she quickly forgot about TV.

Clearly enjoying his new hoop

Loves her new books

Christmas Eve afternoon we went to church and then headed up to my parent's house in Waverly. We had a nice dinner and then Payton and Nolan opened gifts. Since my brother and his family wouldn't be there until January, we decided to wait and open the adult gifts with them.

Christmas day we went to Ryan's parent's in Waverly to celebrate Christmas with the Kriener side. We again enjoyed too much food and opened more gifts. The day after Christmas we went to Waucoma for Christmas with the Wurzer side (Ryan's mom's extended family). Again, more food and more gifts. I thought my extended family was big... until I came to the Wurzer get together's. I love that we still get together with all of our extended families.

Monday night and Tuesday morning we exchanged gifts with Ryan's immediate family. Ryan's sister, Holly, and her husband, Anthony, had a baby the week before Christmas, so they didn't make it home. (That post will be coming soon) After the kids' naps we all headed to Iowa City to see our newest niece and exchange gifts with them. We all went out to eat and then went home.

Cousins, Taylor and Connor

Ron & Jan with all five grandkids

 My brother, his wife, Jamie, and their son, Eli, came home the first week in January. They got to spend quite a few days with us, which is nice since we don't get to see them often. Payton had too much fun bossing her younger cousin around. It was a busy couple of weeks, but so much fun. I love Christmas and getting to spend so much time with our families. It's even more fun now that we have kids and they have cousins to play with.

Kraayenbrink family

Kids' picture with Santa turned into a family picture because Payton was too scared :)