A Very Brasel Christmas

Our Christmas this year was up north, and it was nice to have a stretch of a few days to spend with family, relaxing and sharing the joys of Christmas. Eli helped Grammy B and Mommy with Christmas Eve baking, enjoyed the candlelight singing of Silent Night at the Christmas Eve service, and had fun visiting with relatives (and cows and barn cats) at the farm on Christmas Day. Evelyn was on the go - exploring Grammy and Grampy's house, holding Mommy's hands to "walk" around during the Christmas Eve service, and quickly getting the hang of opening presents on Christmas morning. And as I have now set a new record for the number of times the word "Christmas" is used within one brief paragraph, here are a few pictures from our Christmas visit:

Ooh - hot cocoa for breakfast at Grampy's house!

Doing a little computing (and teeth brushing)

Helping Grampy with a project

Two versus one 

(and Grampy remembering when it was his two boys wrestling with him)

Storytime for all

Grampy B getting his turn

Two kids in Christmas clothes! In front of the tree! Looking at the camera with a happy-ish look on their faces! Success!

Just so. darn. cute.

My sweet, joyful boy

Eli's "silliest Christmas Eve face ever"

Little lady happily posing for a picture

Still happily posing for a picture

Eli was not-so-happily posing for a picture

Snackies after Christmas Eve service

 Leaving cookies and milk (and napkins) out for Santa and Rudolph

Cookies are set; time for bed!

Obligatory pose-with-stockings-before-opening begins picture

Santa ate our cookies and carrots! And left us a note!

Stockings fun

Evelyn explores her stocking

Christmas morning concert

Post-opening scene (still dark outside)

Eli and Daddy playing with Jake legos

Eli and Grammy working on puzzles

Skyping with the Oregon Brasels to view their present opening

Grampy gets a turn to put on a concert

A quick picture (with wiggly kids) before it is time to go