To ring in the first Christmas at our house, this year we hosted the Christmas festivities when my brother came in from Ohio. Scott and Jill and the boys arrived Wednesday and stayed through Sunday, and we had so much fun!
The kids were literally roaring laughing when they played Boom Blox together, and after they went to sleep the adults played. Scott, Jon, and Eli were the champions of Boom Blox in the family. Almost every night we played card games too, so Jon and I were loving that (we love to play games). It was so much fun to have everyone here!
That’s one (well three) full tables!
Boom Blox – Eli’s excited to show his cousins!
We opened presents for the kids on the morning of Christmas Eve, in our jammies. That was a first for us for some reason – we’ve always done it in the evening I think. We made people wake up at 8 am for breakfast though (*cough* Scott and Jon *cough*). The kids were sooo excited to open their gifts and have all day to play with them.
The obligatory kids in front of the tree photo. The only one where the majority of the kids look normal has Andrew hidden though.
Matea actually opened one present I think, though most of the time she spent bringing Christmas ornaments to people (mostly Uncle Jeff) and eating crackers in the front entryway. She came running though when she saw Tori’s Rescue Hero command center. I never thought of putting Rescue Heroes on her list, but I should have! She loved that command center. After getting her doll house, instruments, and cash register out of their packages she got in to those, but the Rescue Heroes were the biggest hit. And, of course, sitting on the presents again.
A Christmas miracle – she’s opening a present!
Naw, I like opening the crackers better Mom.
Eli really wanted to open his gifts (a.k.a. not wait his turn) and he loved his presents. He got the Piranha Panic game and said, “This is exactly what I was wanting!” And he got Sorry Sliders which he loves to play at Lexi and Tori’s house. He was very excited about that. And Grandma, in her wisdom, got him a little Lego Castle set of his own. Nathan and Andrew and Tori were getting Legos and Mom knew that Eli would want some of his own. And he did. He loved sitting at the table with the kids and putting everything together. Good call, Grandma!
Time to panic! The Piranhas' are loose!
Friday, Christmas Day, brought more family time, and the adults opened their presents (no pics, sorry). We were also treated to a “play” by the kids. Since I grew up putting on plays with my cousins, I thought it was a hoot. Lexi was the MC and Nathan and Noah were comic relief. :) Friday night also, unfortunately, started the stomach flu, with Tori getting sick around 1 am. She seemed a little better in the morning though, which was the calm before the storm.
Singing one of many versions of Jingle Bells.
Saturday brought the Koorndyk Christmas Party with my aunts and uncles. We were in the gym at church and the kids loved dodgeball, scooters, and running running running. We got to catch up a little (not nearly enough) and afterwards play some games back at our house. Saturday night Scott and Noah and Lexi fell to the stomach flu as well though. Our family stayed well (I think we had it the week before, sorry guys!), but it wasn’t the best way to end our time together. As Lori said though, “It wouldn’t be Christmas without a Koorndyk getting sick!” Despite the ending, we had a wonderful 5 days of Christmas fun with my brothers and sisters!
Getting the balls out of the storage room was a favorite for Matea.
Dodgeball!
Nathan got his workout pulling these four around on scooters.
Who can resist this cutie pie? Not me! (thanks for the picture, Toni, I love it!
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