Christmas/New Years in Salem

After lunch on Christmas day we headed south to have Christmas with my family.  We had a great visit and fit a lot in.  Enjoy some pictures from our week in Salem!

Nora and Ethan- patiently waiting for present time with Grandma Terri and Pop

Ethan, excited about his new toothbrush 

Grandma Terri, Abby, Atley and Alex

Happy day!

Atley- playing at Grandma Terri's

Playing Bandu with the Puricellis

Dominos...a Blair family Christmas tradition.

Atley- hanging out in the dog bed with a gun ;)!

Gingerbread house mess fun!

The boys (and Katie) house

Hooray!

We decided to try something new this year.  My mom thought it would be fun for just the adults to go out too a nice dinner, and she was right!  It was so much fun!!  My Uncle Bruce and Aunt Jeanne (dad's brother) come from Virginia Beach every year to celebrate Christmas, so this was our Christmas celebration.  It was such a fun time of adult food and conversation.  Thanks Mom and Dad!!

The 10 of us!

Jared and I all dressed up!

Jared and his very red steak (he likes it that was!)

The next night, the Puricelli's hosted a New Year's Eve party for the kids (at 8 pm).  They had a blast and were all in bed and fast asleep before the real New Year came!

Happy New Year!!

Since Micah (my cousin) has moved back to town and started working at Squibb Tank Company- he encouraged us to come take a tour.  So we did!

Ethan and Nora in front of an almost finished tank

Checking out the Army truck.  My Uncle Mike seems to enjoy collecting old military vehicles, and this is one!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was so much fun!  3 young kids make Christmas morning magical!  Ethan and Nora came to our room around 7 and Atley snoozed for another 45 minutes or so until I decided she needed to wake up :)!  They were all so happy and excited to see that Santa had come and check out all their goodies!

Christmas morning selfie (from those of us who were awake)

Stocking time with E and N

Atley found her ball pit!  And loves it :)!

Nora loves her microphone and she loves to perform!

And Ethan loves his Star Wars Nerf Crossbow

3 happy kids in the ball pit!

Christmas Eve: Night

After our visitors headed home, we got ready for Christmas Eve church service.  This is one of my favorite things about Christmas!  There is nothing quite like sitting in church (kids in tow) worshiping and reflecting on the birth of our Savior!  This year, our family was asked to lead the Advent moment during one of the services.  We lead the congregation in a scripture reading, reflection and a prayer.  Ethan was determined to read a portion and he did amazing!  And Nora was so good on stage as well.  She stood still and quiet just like she said she would :).  (Atley was in the nursery during service)

Scripture reading 

On the big screen!

Our annual family Christmas Eve photo after church.

So blessed to call these 3 ours!

 After church, we headed home for some dinner and fun Christmas traditions :)!
First up: Reindeer food!

Sprinkling it out on the yard

Nice form, Ethan!

Cute kids :)

The kids each got an ornament that represented something from the past year and they hung them on the tree.

Nora got a gymnast on a balance beam since  she took tumbling for the first time this year.

Ethan got a football ornament.  He loved his first season of flag football this summer!

Atley got a soft angel because she is the sweetest little angel ;)!  (And I couldn't find a dog ornament I liked since she barks anytime she sees something resembling a dog!)

3 excited kids ready for bed on Christmas Eve!!

Chocolate milk and hand decorated cookies for Santa!

Cookies for Santa!

The kids and I made some yummy cookies for Santa on Ethan's first full day of Christmas break! I forgot to take an after photo of the final product, but trust me, they were very delicious and full of sprinkles :)!!

Cookie cutting!

Ethan's turn

Now time for the icing and sprinkles

Cute kids making Christmas memories (Atley was napping, but she could enjoy a bite or 2 of the finished product!)

Christmas Eve: Day

We had a great Christmas Eve! Grandpa, Grandma Karen, Dustin and Amanda came up to our house for our family Christmas.  We had soup and snacks, presents and a lot of fun!

Atley and Mama

Ethan- playing some games on Grandma Karen's phone

Atley, helping him

Checking out the presents

Looking for all the "Nora" ones :)

Finally it't time to open!

Grandpa and Nora

Chef Nora and Grandma Karen

Daddy and the girls- opening some gifts

Merry Christmas from the whole Collier family!

Silly picture with Grandma and Grandpa!

Christmas Class Parties

I had the privilege to attend 2 Christmas class parties on the same day (December 21)!  Nora was first, then Ethan!  I feel so blessed to be able to be involved in my kids classrooms!  It was a busy and fun day!  Enjoy a few pictures from each party!

Santa made a visit to Nora's party!  Nora's preschool class with Santa :

Playing Pin the Nose on Rudolph! (made by her father and I)

Cute girl!

Atley and Nora chatted with Santa!

Cupcake decorating time

Photo Booth fun!

Story time with Mrs. Ryan

I helped out with Ethan's class party a little more, so I don't have as many pictures from his.

I snapped a picture of Ethan's "Tacky Holiday Sweater" he made in class

M&M Bingo

Ethan took some selfies on my phone :)

Photo Booth fun

Such a fun day!