Rabe Christmas

After missing my family's Christmas gathering last year, I was so SO happy that we made it this year!  We were all together for two whole days (except for Julie's husband, Eric, who unfortunately couldn't make it this time)!

Enjoying family...everyone in one candid picture (except Eric...and me, of course!)

 Even though we don't get to see Aunt Julie & Aunt Jessica very often, we talk about them a lot, so Serena & Bret were excited to see them!  Cody is a different story, though.  He is so afraid of Julie!  I think it's because she looks a lot like me, especially with her dark hair.  Sometimes, he'll be playing happily near her, and then suddenly get a good look at her and just FUH-REAK out!  It's actually kind of funny!  But he really likes Jessica!  One night, Cody was having a hard time falling asleep, so I brought him up to be with all the grown-ups rather than spending the whole evening trying to get him to sleep.  At first, Cody played happily, but after a while he started to get really tired and cranky.  He wasn't even very happy with me, so Jess offered to hold him, and he went to her!  He was so content with her!  I can't remember now if he actually fell asleep; but it reminded me of when Jess & David came to visit us in October and Cody did fall asleep on Jess twice in the two days they were here!  Pretty sweet!  :)

Julie and the Bretster-boy

 Just like at Thanksgiving, one of the things that the kids were looking forward to at Christmastime was the special treats, of course!

Serena enjoying a much-anticipated Christmas tree cookie  ;)

Kaden, our big six-year-old nephew!

Me and my baby Cody-bear

Before we let the kids open presents, we had to take a bunch of pictures, of course!  Serena & Bret just love their cousins, and had looked so forward to playing with them!  Serena & Keira played a lot with their babies and the little kitchen set.  Bret played with (?) them a lot too; but mostly he tried to get things stirred up.  He really likes action.  ;)

All the Rabe cousins (the day before Kaden & Kael's birthdays)- Kaden (5), Serena (4), Keira (3), Bret (2), Cody (1), Kael (0)  :)

 Bret also really likes making faces.  ;)

Silly faces!!  :D

Grandma & Great Grandma Rabe with all the grandbabies

Every single member of our family was so blessed this year through such sweet and thoughtful Christmas presents!  We felt very loved!  And Serena & Bret so enjoyed giving their birdfeeders to everyone!  Well, mostly Serena; Bret was generally too distracted by all the new balls.  ;)  Serena noticed whenever someone was opening one of the birdfeeder boxes, and would go explain to them what they were and what they could do with them and how she made them and...you get the idea.  ;)

Opening presents

 Traditions are so special, and I'm glad that my kids get to enjoy the same ones that I did as a child!

Listening to Great Grandma talk about Jesus birthday cake; she makes it in such a way that each part has significance...kind of like the Wordless Book in cake form!

Sunday was Kaden & Kael's birthday, so we got to enjoy a little birthday party with them!

Watching Kael eat his first birthday cake (I love this picture!)

 Didn't get all the pictures I would have liked to, but I certainly did enjoy every moment!

Our kids with Gram

Me and my baby sister

Our kids with Grammie

Our kids with their Aunt Julie

Gram reading to Cody-bear

After spending a couple days at Mom's, we spent a couple days with Jordan's family.  Julie was still in town, so my sweet mother-in-law and sister-in-law watched my three munchkins for a few hours while I enjoyed some breakfast at Perkins with Mom & Julie Christmas Eve morning!  It was such a special time!

Me and Julie at Perkins for breakfast