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Saturday, January 10, 2015

McQuality Christmas

This year we decided to stay home for all of break.  Matt took the entire time off work that the boys and I were home so we wanted to spend some time at home.   It was nice not to travel and live out of suitcases at multiple houses over break.  We missed all of our family, but we were blessed that Matt's parents, sister and her fiancĂ© came to stay with us from Dec. 26-29. When they left, my parents and brother's family came to stay with us as well from Dec. 29-Jan.1. It was the best of both worlds for us (minus all the sickness that happened to go around).

The first thing the boys wanted to do when our visitors came was of course open presents.  I felt like Matt's family carried in presents forever.  Here is a pic of Landon and Cara in front of the tree before we passed out all the presents

 We just let the boys unwrap all of their presents at one time.  Here they are going nuts!
Keegan showing us his new "Frozen" cereal.
Landon opening more presents.
Cute pic of Keegan
Keegan would open a present and then stack it against the wall.  Here is his line of presents!
Playing Hi-Ho-Cherry-O with Papa
 Matt's Aunt and Uncle gave Keegan a train that he can ride on around a track.  This is Landon testing it out for him :)
 The next morning, Landon and Keegan helped Grandma make mint chippers.

Then, the boys decided to go to toboggan shoots.  Cara and I went with them, but we decided not to go down a 70 foot ice drop on a toboggan.  This is Landon all ready to go.  (Notice how in the background you can still see stacks of presents…..the adults didn't open presents until later that night!)
 
Here is their trip down…..


All finished and all on one toboggan….Landon, Matt, Rod and Nathaniel
Landon and I sitting by the fire afterwards, drinking hot chocolate.
 We went to the new Winking Lizard for dinner that night and Cara took her traditional silly selfies with the boys!
Landon and Cara
 Cara and Keegan
The boys love going to Winking Lizard because you get popcorn to eat while you wait!

 The next day we went bowling.  It was a good time, but we missed Cara because she was sick :(
Landon getting ready to bowl.
 Keegan waiting for his ball to come back.
Keegan getting ready to bowl.
Landon bowling.
Nathaniel helping Keegan
Keegan celebrating after he knocked down the pins during his turn.
 Before the left, Papa helped Landon practice his songs on the piano.

 Keegan and Grandma
 Thanks for coming to see us guys and for all the wonderful presents you brought us.  Thank you also to everyone else that we didn't get to see and who sent us presents.  We greatly appreciate everything!

Friday, January 9, 2015

Christmas Morning

Landon woke up first on Christmas morning.  He actually woke up at 3:30 and wondered if Santa had come yet, but I told him he had to go back to sleep for a little bit still because I wasn't sure.  He got up around 7 I think and stayed with us in our room, waiting for Keegan to wake up.  We eventually woke up Keegan.

 Love this pic of Landon looking over the balcony at the tree and all his presents, trying to wait so patiently for Keegan!
 The tree…this year Santa left big bags with the boys names on them for all of their wrapped presents to go in.  They each had one that was too big for the bag though.  Keegan got a new car to ride and Landon got a new bike!
 Keegan opening his stocking
 Riding on his new car
 The boys digging through their new bags


 Landon opening presents from Santa

 Keegan opening his new Mickey Mouse Choo Choo train.  This is the one thing he kept asking for and opened it and screamed, "I got it!  I got my Mickey Choo Choo Train.  This is what I wanted!"
 Keegan opening his present from Landon
 This was our Christmas breakfast this year….a Christmas tree pancake with M&M's to decorate it and a pancake star, and a sausage link for the trunk!
We hope all of you had as wonderful of a Christmas as we did!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was always one of my favorite days of the year.  We always went to Grandma and Grandpa Haseley's for dinner, then we got dressed up, took pictures, went to church, came back to their house and opened presents and had Christmas cookies. We changed into our pajamas after church and we always got to stay late that night! When we were younger, Santa also came to visit after church.  

Christmas Eve is kind of bitter sweet for me now.  I always miss the fact that I'm not with my whole family, and in Lincoln at Granny and Grandpa's old house. However, since having our own family, we have new traditions that we started a few years ago and I love them too!  I love getting dressed up and going to church on Christmas Eve (that is my favorite service all year).  Now Landon sings in the choir that night and we love to watch and listen to him.  I love coming home and getting in our pi's and fixing our spaghetti dinner.  I love watching the boys get so excited to write Santa letters and put milk and cookies out for him, and then put food out food for the reindeers as well. I love reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with all of us. I love how excited the boys are about EVERYTHING.  And I love waking up at our house on Christmas morning, opening presents and then fixing a Christmas breakfast.  

So, I think I will always miss how Christmas Eve used to be and I will always remember it, but I am thankful for how Christmas Eve is now with my own family as well!

Our handsome boys all dressed up for church.
 Family pic
 Just a cute pic of Landon….he looks so grown up here :(
 Another family pic
While we were at church, Landon and Keegan got presents dropped off for them from their friends.  They loved them! 
Landon waited until Christmas Eve to open his Christmas present from his teacher and he was so excited!
He got a new book to read and a pencil and he LOVED it!
Every year the boys get videos sent to them from Santa.  This is Keegan watching his video with Daddy.
Reading "Twas the Night before Christmas"
 Santa's plate all ready to go with cookies, carrots for the reindeer and letters.
 Here is a picture Landon made for Santa
 And here is the Christmas card he made Santa

The boys saying their last goodbyes to Alvin, our elf.  They gave him his hug earlier and were just telling him goodbye until next year.
 Landon made reindeer food at school this year during his holiday party so the boys threw it out in the front yard for the reindeer.