Christmas Day Part 2

Christmas Day is reserved for Karsten's family.  After we got done with Santa's presents we got ready and headed to Waukon to Karsten's Mom's.  Aunt Sharon and Uncle Byron weren't able to be here on Christmas Day but Aunt Christa and her friend Vaughn were.  We had a delicious meal from Shirley (she's one of the best cooks I know) then settled down to open some more presents.

 BIG box!

 walkie talkies for the boys

 big wooden semi for Jackson

 Tristan helping Grandma Shirley

 Grandma Shirley got a new scarf

 and a new fire safe

Tristan being silly

The Foels Family definitely had a pretty awesome Christmas!  We got to eat good food, got some new "toys" but most importantly had some very good company.  We are truly blessed and thank God for everything we have.  2012 promises to be just as good as 2011!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! 

Christmas Day Part 1

Christmas Day started off, of course, with Santa coming!  He had shown up sometime during the night and left lots of presents for Jackson and Tristan.  The boys were soooo excited!  Santa had even nibbled on the snacks we left him...

The boys got into their stocking gifts right away then we tried to eat some breakfast.

We set up the video camera and got to work opening Santa presents...

 We tried to get a picture of the boys, as you can see it didn't work out so well

 Jackson got a helicopter

 They both got some books

 Tristan got his own dump truck, Jackson has problems with Tristan playing with his...

 Jackson got the troublesome trucks for his train table

 Tristan trying out his new pillow

 Tickle me Elmo!

 Jackson got a disc for his tractors

 New Thomas movie!

 Tristan on his new phone

Tristan playing with his new food set

These two little boys must have been pretty good this year because Santa treated them well!

Christmas Eve

I had the entire Christmas Holiday off this year!  This doesn't happen very often so I was very excited!  Working holidays (most notably, Christmas) is probably my least favorite part of my job, but it's what I signed up for when I became a hospital nurse.  Christmas Eve is always spent with my family.  Since the boys were born we've moved the celebration to our house.  So Grandma and Papa came along with Uncle Mike.  We had a great time.  Church was first with Grandma and Papa, Jackson and Tristan really enjoyed the candles at the end of the service.  Once we got home Mike was there!  Karsten and I got the finishing touches put on supper and we feasted.  Louisiana shrimp, cheese fondue, veggie pizza, raw veggies and dip, and of course some sugary goodies.

YUM!

Do you think we have enough presents?  Santa hasn't even come yet...

We always have to start out Christmas with family pictures...

 Grandma and Papa with their grandchildren

 Uncle Mike with the boys

 The "Kids"

Foels Family

Then we got to work on all those presents!

 Tristan got a cool racecar toy

 Mom got a kindle fire!  And so did I later!

 New tractor and wagon for the Tman

 Jackson got a Mobigo (handheld game player for kids)

 Mike trying out his new personalized "Coach Sass" whistle

 Tristan got a Little People set

 A basketball for Jman!

 Tristan in his new jammies, he went to bed early

 This was supposed to be of Mom's scarf but Dad got in the way

 Jackson got his garbage truck!  This is pretty much all he had been asking for.

New socks for Papa!

Christmas Eve was pretty much awesome.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful family.  The boys were getting pretty tired by the end of present opening.  As I said Tristan didn't even make it thru the entire evening.  They were pretty excited about Santa coming the next day.  We even left him a little snack....

Preschool Fun

Jackson does enjoy preschool.  Sometimes it's a challenge to get him to go but once he's there he seems to have a great time.  He has also learned SO MUCH!  And they make the neatest things!  Like this....

Christmas with The Davis'

Today was our first Christmas of the season.  For years growing up we would celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve taking turns at Mom and Dads and Joy's houses.  Now that some of us have our own families, this tradition has changed.  Every year we still try to get together with the Davis families, Joy and Barb made it this year and it was at Mom and Dad's.  This is always a good time with good company and good food.  The boys made it especially entertaining this year.  We always start with pictures....

 The Foels family

 The grandchildren and great grandchildren

 Papa and Grandma with their grandsons

 Joy and Barb

The Sass/Foels clan

Then we open presents...

 Dad's duct tape wallet and flower pen

 Jackson got a new car

 Karsten and his puzzle game

The boys liked to help pass out presents and then of course help open them

It was a great day.  Jackson had been sick a few days before but he was a trooper.  He did end up cuddling up on me for a 20 minute catnap before we opened presents, then he was fine.  I hope we can continue to get together in the years to come.  I should point out that we are missing Jim and his family who recently welcomed a new son!  Hopefully some year they will be able to join us as well.