Through the years...

Hannah's First Christmas, 2008

Hannah's Second Christmas, 2009

 Hannah's Third Christmas, 2010

This seems absolutely impossible to me that this was Hannah's third Christmas...where has our little baby gone?  She has grown so much and is smarter than a whip.  Everyday she makes us laugh and astonishes us with the things that she knows.  She warmed my heart last night when singing along to "If your happy and you know it...hug a friend", she ran into the kitchen and hugged my leg.  She is the sweetest thing that you will ever meet and is always concerned with other's well-being.  I cannot even begin to describe how proud we are of her and how blessed we are to call her our own!  Maybe this year will go a little slower than the past three??!!

And the celebrations continue...

On December 26th we woke at 3:30 and were on the road by 4:00 am with the truck loaded up and the kids all snuggled in their carseats for the trip to Missouri...it turned out to be such a wonderful trip and we made it there in record time (shhhh...don't tell your friendly local law enforcement).  We waited a few days for the rest of the family to join us in Columbia, but then the fun and games began.

 Here's Craig waiting for the action to begin.

 Aunt Jessie and Abby (the oldest granddaughter, 6)

 Mimi and her four granddaughters...Abby (6), Emma (1), Hannah (2), Gracie (4).

 Caleb witnessing all the girls...and dreading the fact that they are going to make him play with dolls when he gets older!!

 The whole gang...

 The beautiful Burkhalter family

 Us, again...

 Abby's best gift of all was a new pair of black Uggs...THANK YOU MIMI and PAPA!!

 Caleb is super excited to be able to play with his new cars and racetrack.

 Gracie opening her new horse.

 Emma snuggling up with her new sleeping bag.

 A picture of the family at the beach last summer.

 The best gift of all...silhouette's of all the grandkids.  We knew we'd catch Mimi shedding some tears over this one.  They all turned out beautifully and it is a gift that will be hard to beat in the future!

 Gracie with her silhouette.

Great Grandpa Art looking through the calendar we made for him from all of the grandkids and great grandkids.

And we got an iPad...which we LOVE!

Hannah all dressed up in her gear on Caleb's new Radio Flyer scooter.  

Later that same day...

We headed to Grandma and Grandpa's to have brunch with Oma and Opa and to open presents with Uncle Curt and Aunt Kristen after the kiddos had a nap.  It was a wonderful day...

 Oma reading to Caleb and Hannah.

 The family

 The family with four legged members :)

 Uncle Curt and Aunt Kristen with Amos

 Now that's a good lookin' family :)

 Hannah showing Grandma how she made the flowers with her hand.  She even remembered that mommy had put the dots at the top with her fingers...her smarts never cease to amaze!

And since Grandpa eats frosted flakes everyday and taught Hannah how to drink the milk out of the bowl when you're done, Hannah and Caleb made him a cereal bowl with a lion footprint in the bottom of it and Hannah's handprints on the side to show Grandpa how to hold it when he's done.

Caleb chillin' in his new bean bag.

We had silhouettes made of the kids...they turned out beautifully!

Such a big day for our little man...he's tuckered!

The aftermath!!!  WOAH!

Santa DID come!!

Hannah was so excited this year to see what Santa was going to bring.  Our Elf on a Shelf, Elfie, made the long trip to the north pole every night to tell Santa if Hannah and Caleb had been naughty or nice...

Here they come...crazy hair and all!!

Look what Santa brought!

A sports toy for Caleb.

A jumper for Hannah (which she absolutely loves!) and an art easel with all the goodies to go with it.

Caleb with his stocking.

Oooh...some new teethers!!

Such a big boy...enjoying his first Christmas!

A new DVD.

Craig and his stocking from Santa.

So many presents...what to open first?!?

Craig had to go around the house on a scavenger hunt to find his gift...a new Weber smoker...the gift that keeps on giving...mmmmm!!

Hannah with her Mizzou cheerleading outfit (which didn't help them win their bowl game, but that's another discussion).

We LOVE to read...Caleb and Daddy reading a new dump truck book!

And the aftermath...such a fun morning filled with so many memories we will cherish forever!  Our family is so blessed to be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to be forgiven of all our sins...there is no better gift than to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!  

The night before Christmas...

After a wonderful, sprit filled celebration of our Savior's birth at our candle light service, we came home to enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner with Grandma and Grandpa...one which involved opening a few early gifts for Hannah and Caleb.

Hannah poised and ready for church in her beautiful dress with matching pearl necklace which belonged to Great Grandma Grace...whom Hannah Grace is named after.

The family...in our Christmas duds.

 The cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesers...Hannah and Grandma :)

Hannah opening her early Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa.

Mr. Man looking SO serious...and pretty darn cute!

Grandma is continuing such a special, loving tradition...something her grandmother did for her...making a Christmas nightgown each year for the grandkids to wake up in each Christmas morning.  They are super cute and this year she made some pj's for Caleb and a special sleep sack for Hannah's favorite baby doll.  

Caleb checking out his new, warm penguin pj's.

And a special something from Grandpa...Frosty the Snowman recorded book read by Grandpa.

And Hannah's baby's nightgown.  

All ready for bed...Santa's on his way!!

One quick story before bed...The Night Before Christmas.  Ike's even taking an interest in listening!

Nighty-night brother...see you in the morning!

I love you!!