Christmas at the Krebs' home

So we got to stay home for Christmas this year. It was the first time ever and it was a lot of fun. We kind of started some traditions or did a couple that we have grown up with or wanted to start. Hopefully next year if we stay home again, we will be able to do more or plan better at least. Here is our pathetic tree. The top broke completely last year I think. We have been using twist ties and pencils to hold up our star in the past. This year I tried a bow and it still didn't really work. We had a wonderful Christmas starting with a video from Aiselyn down at the bottom. Then we had a big breakfast and waited for Gabe to wake up to open presents. We didn't get around to opening presents till like 10 or 10:30 or maybe that is when we finished. I don't remember. I just remember the 10:30 part and thinking that was pretty good.

Aiselyn and Abby are holding up their little Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty dolls that they got in their stockings. They have loved these little dolls/figurine things.

Here I am passing out the presents. We each take turns opening one present at a time so that everyone can see what the others open. We really enjoy that!

Here is some of the terror. I have most of everything cleaned up and some put away but not much. The kitty found solace in Gabe's train box. He always likes curling up in boxes, stools, plastic grocery bags and other odd places.

The girls are playing with Gabe on his train. They all love this riding toy! Thank you Grandma Pinkard! The girls also got scooters and they thank you for those as well.

Later, or actually I think it is the next morning or something but anyway, Abby is looking at the computer with Daddy and Chloe, our dog, is very relaxed in an odd contorted way! I thought it was an interesting picture! This puppy enjoys laying around and snoozing!

And here is the kitty resting and snoozing. He as deemed under the tree "his" spot. The velvet tree skirt bore witness to it. It was covered in kitty fur...and it wasn't all that easy to get off, but he loved sleeping there so I let him. He also enjoys curving his body around and upside down and every which way he can. He is an odd cat, but very friendly so who can complain I guess!

Here the kids are in their Christmas outfits. Aren't they adorable?!

Here are some cute videos of Aiselyn on Christmas morning and of Gabe riding his train. This video of Aiselyn doesn't do justice. She came in soooo excited about all the presents so I had her say it again for the video but her reaction isn't nearly what it was. Oh well!

Finally...our Thanksgiving pictures!

I have had the hardest time getting my pictures off my camera lately. I know...it's no excuse right! well, Tommy showed me a new way and it is waaaaaay easier than what I was doing so lo and behold...our vacations recently (our christmas pictures will be up this week as well--hopefully tomorrow---well, maybe). So we drove up to Maryland for Tommy's grandfather's 95th birthday party. It was a lot of fun especially for the kids. I got to make the cake and let me just brag a little bit...BUT IT WAS AWESOME! I'm not usually one for carrot (that's what he wanted) but this one was great! I had to make the Texas bluebell wildflowers by hand and it was a challenge let me tell you but it turned out pretty well!

Here is Grandpa Krebs (great-grandpa to the kids) giving a little speech!

Grandma Krebs doing the chicken dance with all the kids!

Cousins being silly (Katie in the hat, Devin, and Abby with Lucas and Garret in the background)

This is Thanksgiving day at Tommy's cousin, Roxanne's, house where Aiselyn is of course reading to Grandma. If some of you out there don't know much about Aiselyn, she loves to read! This is an understatement. She is only in Kindergarten but she probably reads at a 2nd grade level at least. She astonishes me quite frequently with what she reads. I hope my other kids will follow suite but I doubt it!

The after dinner snooze. This is classic of Tommy and Abby. Like father like daughter!

Here is Gabe and Lucas with a unique picture of two 1 year olds...barely one year olds...laying together still on the floor. Who does that? It was pretty fun. They actually camped out there for a while especially Gabe--he's such a laid back boy. He is truly awesome I must say!

So we were in the car going on a drive or something and Gabe insisted on holding both the girls hands. It was the sweetest thing ever! It may look like he's trying to get free, but it's only my poor picture taking skills at work. He and they were loving it. The girls would say things like, "awe, he's so cute!" or something to that effect. They're all silly!

So being in Maryland we had to catch up with our friends the Gish family. we met them to eat at a restaurant for dinner. we caught up on each other's lives and had fun hanging out for awhile. Here Gabe is sucking on lemon slices that come in your water! For some reason he thought they were pretty fine!

here we all are minus me of course..I'm taking the picture!

Here are the girls. They wanted their own picture taken and they are all so adorable. there's Lillian, Abby, Eleanor, and Aiselyn. The baby Camilla (well, she's like 2 or something but still she's their baby) isn't sitting with them.

thank you all so much for a wonderful time in Maryland. I know this is late and already January but it's better late than not at all...at least I like to think so! More to come soon on our latest exploits!