Christmas 2016

It's hard to believe that we wrapped up another Christmas season tonight.  With the exception of my parents both coming down with the viral plague in the past few days, it really was a perfect and wonderful holiday.  We started off by heading to my parents' house yesterday after the Seahawks game ended.  Although my dad was already really sick with a bad cold/flu combo, my mom managed to put on her delicious, turkey dinner that we all contributed food to.  This was Chris' and Natalee's year to be with our family, so it was fun to have all of the Washington cousins together.  We enjoyed the dinner, participated in a family, Christmas program, and then played a "White Elephant" game which is something we have always done in the past at my mom's family's Christmas party that did not happen this year.  We unfortunately ran out of time at the end of the evening to do our traditional lighting of the Christmas tree with real candles, but since my dad wasn't feeling well it probably was best that we skipped it this year.
The next morning, the children woke up to their Santa gifts carefully laid out on their designated couches.  They were so excited to run downstairs and see what they had got from Santa.  There definitely was an American Girl Doll theme for Lia, a Star Wars theme for Logan, and a princess theme for Ella.  They all seemed to really enjoy their gifts.  Since Christmas fell on Sunday and we didn't want to rush things, we opted to just have our nice, traditional breakfast in the dining room before getting dressed and heading off to church.  After we came home around noon, we opened up our gifts under the tree.  Since my mom had woken up with the same flu this morning, she left my dad at home and amazingly managed to drive around to all three homes in half the time that they normally take.  Instead of coming to our house for dinner, she came right after we had finished opening up our gifts after church.  The children were able to show grandma what they had gotten for Christmas before we exchanged gifts with her.  It was sad to see grandma leave so quickly, but she really was so sick and needed to get home and into bed.
After my mom left, the children and I watched the new Star Wars movie that grandma had given us as a present.  Afterwards, Ron helped me make our traditional, Filipino dinner that we ate at 7:30 in the dining room.  Since we had to fit church into the Christmas schedule, everything was a little pushed back the rest of the day, but it ended up being okay since we didn't end up hosting my parents who are normally in a hurry to get home after a long day driving from house to house.  Overall it was a wonderful, relaxing, and peaceful Christmas which we all appreciated after such a whirlwind, holiday season!  Now it's on to Priest Lake...

The Hartland fam posing in front of the Christmas tree at the grandparents' house.

Lia playing some Christmas music on the piano as part of the Christmas program.

Logan and Lia sharing a chair with their older cousin, Vivi.  Logan found this Santa hat from when he was a baby in the top drawer of his dresser.  He somehow managed to squeeze in onto his head even though it is several sizes too small.  However, it looked so funny as a result!

Aunt Natalee leading everywhere in the ringing of the bells.

Logan, Ella, Riley, and Bryce ringing their bells.

The children also acted out the nativity story while Ron read it from the Bible.  Ella got to be Mary this year (with Brynn as Joseph) which was just the cutest thing...especially with the ya-ya in her mouth.  

Vivi and Lia were matching angels which Lia was just thrilled about.

Logan was so excited in advance to be the star, but when the moment actually he arrived, he was a little grumpy which made the entire affair even funnier.

All of the grandkids (minus Garrett who just watched this year) together after the story was over.

Lia's Santa gifts all neatly laid out Christmas morning before she came down the stairs.

Although Lia already has gotten her historical, American Girl Doll Caroline and the sailing outfit that she is wearing, she got the two different accessories that go with it:  the travel basket and the bonnet and jacket.  Santa "borrowed" Caroline a few days before Christmas to send her to the 'Santa Salon' to have her hair styled by the elves.  As a result, she showed back up Christmas morning wearing her sailing outfit with her hair all pretty and fixed.

Logan and Ella shared a couch.  It is pretty easy to tell which half is Ella's and which half is Logan's just by the colors.

Ella's half of gifts with lots of princess stuff!

Logan's side of gifts with lots of Star Wars and pirate goodies which are his two current, favorite things.

Lia's reaction after seeing her Santa gifts.  I just loved the look on her face!

Logan and Ella both quickly changed into their princess and pirate clothes.  Here they are showing them off to the family.  They looked pretty darn cute if you ask me!

Lia opening up her new, mini, Caroline doll.

Ella trying out her doctor kit with her Elsa and Rapunzel dolls at her side.

Lia dressing a Barbie in her new mermaid outfit with Logan looking on.

Mama and the kiddos in front of the tree.

All of the children alone.

All three kiddos checking out Ella's new, awesome tent.

Everyone ready to dive into our Christmas breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, homemade bread ring, and Martinelli's sparkling cider.  Notice how BB8 is the sixth member of our family.

Logan and his new friend, BB8.

All three kids dressed up in their Christmas clothes ready to head off to church.

Ella in her princess shoes and dress showing off her new Barbies that she just unwrapped.

Logan showing off his BB8 Operation game from Aunt Renee and Uncle Derek.

Papa helping Ella to open up a Princess Sophia purse.

Logan opening up another gift while wearing his awesome pirate costume (yes, he put it back on again after church).

Lia opening up her American Girl Doll salon that she was super excited about!

The kids gathering around mom after she opened up her new popcorn machine.

Ella modeling her beautiful Cinderella gown and glass slippers from Aunt Austin and Uncle Robbie.

Ella showing off her Elsa dress from Santa with the pretty gloves and accessories she also got from Aunt Austin and Uncle Robbie.  She was definitely excited about all of the new items she was able to add to her dress-up wardrobe!