Sloothaak Christmas 2011

We celebrated Christmas with the Sloothaak side on Tuesday.  It was a little bit strange for us this year not having either of our family parties until after Christmas, but it allowed us to have a quiet Christmas weekend to celebrate with just our little family, and that was nice too.

We couldn't believe how easy it was to get this picture this year!  The joys of kids getting older!!

Our family by the tree.

After pictures, the kids decorated Christmas cookies.  This has become a bit of a tradition here, and the kids all look forward to Grandma's yummy frosted sugar cookies!

The kids played their games after all of the cookies were decorated.  John's mom had planned several games this year - a candy cane ring toss, penny toss, a cranberry balance game, and bucket bonanza.  We all had fun watching the kids and cheering them on.  Each one had a bag that they decorated to keep their prizes in.  Rowan carried hers like a purse, which is just so typical for her.  I had to snap a picture because it was just too cute!

After games it was time for the Christmas program!  This tradition started with the Westrate family parties many years ago, and still continues today!  Brooke helped organize it, and the kids sang some fun Christmas songs for us!  Here they are singing "Jingle Bells".

Rowan would ride out in this car after every song so that we knew when it was time to clap for the performers!  We got such a kick out of this!

"Merry Christmas everyone!"

After dinner, we headed back downstairs for our game of Concentration and the adult trivia game.  Trey made the match for the clue "Ali and Frasier" and thought it was soooo funny when he opened up a pair of boxers as his gift!

After the games were done, it was finally time for presents!  We love watching everyone open their gifts!  Our kids got so many of the things they were hoping for.  Here are a few of the treasures they came home with.

Rowan got this cute pair of Dora ballet slippers from Brooke, Riley, and Maddie.

Uncle Scott and Aunt Gina got Riley and Trey matching gifts of Michigan t-shirts and these fun Detroit Tigers flashlights.  They had fun looking for their Old English D on the ceiling!

Rowan also got this fun snap doll with clothes from her cousins.

Trey LOVES this Michigan football helmet and uniform that he got from Grandpa and Grandma!

There might not be a more perfect gift for him right now!

Rowan and Trey each got a tennis racket to use next summer.  We love having tennis courts right behind our house!

Rowan has been hoping for this pillow pet piggie for months now!  She loves it!!!

And Trey got the one he had been hoping for too - the Michigan wolverine! (Even though Rowan is convinced it's a bear...)

A new, super girly, princess bike for our princess!  

It even has a seat in the back that is just perfect for her new BFF, Piggie!  Thanks, Grandpa and Grandma!

Rowan and Trey opened a shared gift of a Boz the Bear movie (this momma loves Boz the Bear!), and a new game - Hullabaloo!  That game is F-U-N!  The kids (and I!) love it!

It was such a fun party, and the kids (and John and I) were completely spoiled!  We are so thankful for these fun times to make memories as a family!