Christmas Day 2013

We had a wonderful Christmas at our house.  We stayed in our PJs most of the day, spent some quality time together, played with some cool new toys and enjoyed a delicious dinner (prepared by us!)
Ethan woke up first, around 7:30, came into our room and said "there are presents out there."  Kind of nonchalant-like.  Then he got in bed with us to watch some TV until Nora woke up.  So, around 8 am we made our way to the living room to see what we could find.

Ethan, checking things out.

Nora went straight for the plastic, dress-up high heels.  This girl loves shoes ;)

Opening stockings

Opening his Mario Kart game...and figuring out we have a Wii.

Such a helpful brother

Love her face here.  She was very excited about the baby!

Nora and baby Olive

Nora wanted to help Ethan with some Lego building.  Or....just wanted his chair.

She's such a ham!

Ethan and Daddy deep in the Lego 'map'

Mama and Ethan playing a little Mario Kart on the Wii

Merry Christmas from the happy Collier kids!!

Christmas Eve

Every year we attend a Christmas Eve service at our church.  It is one of my favorite parts about the Christmas season.  There is just something special about it that I can't quite describe!  Ethan came in the service with us and was very well behaved (which I expected), even for sitting by all his friends :).

Jared and I sat on either side of this clan for a while.  People who don't know us, probably thought we were crazy!  5 boys!

After the service, we had a few pictures taken of us, as a family.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

We had our good friends, the Lloyds, over for dinner after church.  It was a great evening, and the kids wore each other out!

Nora(2), Kullen(2), Chase(3), Ethan(4), Brennan(5)

When our guests left, we found a note from Frank the Bank (our elf). It was basically a good bye letter, but it did say that the "no touching" rule could be lifted for a couple minutes so the kids could hug him and tell him goodbye.  It was sweet.  Ethan was sad to say goodbye and Nora asked where he was this morning.  They love their elf :).

Hugging goodbye!

After goodbyes were said, we got the milk, cookies and reindeer food out and ready for Santa.  We read the Bible story- the real meaning of Christmas, said our prayers and headed to bed.
We are so thankful for our family and most of all, thankful for the meaning behind all our Christmas celebrations!  Thank-you Jesus for the ultimate sacrifice!  HE is and always will be the best gift ever!

Festive Happenings

I'm not sure what prompted me to get a gingerbread house, but I bought one and Ethan was sooooo excited to make it.  Last week, we put the thing together.

This is the best I could get of both of them.  Nora couldn't take her eyes off the candy

The pictures might look lovely and cute...but it was kind of a nightmare!  Nora cried most of the time because we wouldn't let her just sit there licking all the icing and eating all the candy.  What's a fun Christmas activity without some crying and fit throwing?!?
Last week was also Ethan's class Christmas party...that I happened to be in charge of.  It was a lot of fun but I'm glad it's over :).

Working hard on the Christmas tree craft.

Stick the nose/carrot on the snowman!

Ethan, showing me his polar bear ornament he made.

One of the parents brought a refrigerator box, turned it on it's side and poked Christmas lights in the top.  The kids thought it was the coolest thing, EVER!!  They all had to crawl through the lighted tunnel. 

The students giving their gifts to Mrs. McDevitt

Mrs. McDevitt giving Ethan his gift!

The whole class crammed in the lighted tunnel!

Pre-School Christmas

Last night was Ethan's pre-school Christmas program.  It was short and so sweet!  Each class {3 year olds and 4 year olds} sang 2 songs and then they sang one all together.  I love watching these kids, since you never know what to expect.

Ethan's class with his teacher, Mrs. McDevitt

Close- up.  He did a great job!

Here's a little video of his class singing "Go Tell it on the Mountain"

This is how Nora was entertained during the program.  Aunt Amanda and cookies!

He is growing up too fast!  My 4 1/2 year old, sweet boy!

Santa and His Reindeer

Today, we went to see Santa and some reindeer.  It was a free event in a local parking lot, and was very nice.  When we got there, there was a firetruck, police car and an armored police vehicle.  We checked those out and then found Santa.  It was quite chilly, but a good time was had by all!

Nora, Ethan and Santa

Checking out the reindeer

Ethan really liked petting them.

He was freezing!

The reindeer checking out the kids :)

Nora and I with Decatur's finest

We are loving all that comes with this Christmas season.  Especially the family time and extra excitement from the kids!

Let it Snow!

We finally got enough snow to play in yesterday {about 5-6 in total}.  Ethan still loves to play out in it, and could stay outside all day, if we let him.  Nora loved it as well.  She was done much before her brother, though.  We invited some friends over to sled in our yard and had a blast!  

A view of our back yard, before any snow was disturbed.  Beautiful!

The 4 of us!

My friend, Emily, and Nora!

Ethan, the daredevil!

Ethan and friends, throwing snowballs at the tree house. 

Big girl, sledding on her own!

4 families=11 kids (with 2 on the way)!  So thankful for these sweet faces and their parents!

Christmas at the Colliers

I finally got around to taking some pictures of our Christmas decorations this year.  I like to do this to share it with everyone as well as document for myself.
We got our tree from the Boy Scouts again this year, and still are not disappointed.  The kids had a blast decorating it and watching/helping them do it is one of my favorite parts about this time of year!

Putting the 1st ornament on the tree 

Nora did really well 

It's a family affair

So excited about the tree!

We have these little sparkly poof balls that you throw into the tree.  They were a fun tradition when I was a kid, we always wanted to keep taking them out the the tree and throw them in again.  So, when I found some, I bought them.  And my kids do the same...until they throw them too high and can't reach them anymore :).

Ethan, in action.  Look at the top, center of the picture.  There's a green one.

Up close on one.

Finally the star!

After everything else was done and in place, I went around taking pictures.  So, enjoy the virtual tour of Christmas decor at our house this year :).
I'll start outside first,

Now, inside:

Some of the flat surface ;)

Mantle and Christmas Tree, all lit up.  I love the look and feel of just the Christmas lights.

Nora and Ethan's 2013 ornaments
Nora gets the owl- she was an owl for Halloween
Ethan gets the fox- he loves to go around singing "What does the fox say?"

Some different angles of the tree and mantle and the dining room

My Nativity scene I got as Christmas gifts from my parents over several years.  I love it!

Ethan wanted to make some snowflakes today.  I showed him my way, and he had a way also.  He and Jared put together this 'Winter Art' paper.  This might have to come out every year as decoration.  I love it.  And I love that it says 'Art Winter'.  Makes me laugh every time I read it :).

One last photo...

Merry Christmas!!