Christmas with The Bates Family

Because the Holidays are always so crazy we decide to celebrate with D's side of the family a few days early. We all got together on Sunday evening the 21st and teamed up and had a Gingerbread House making contest. It was so fun. D and I decide to build a firehouse, unfortunately it took us so long to build our house that we didn't get any landscaping done which caused us to get 2nd place in the contest. But I could almost bet you D built it so sturdy t wasn't going any where. D & L built a house with really cool landscaping and ended up taking 1st place. 3rd and 4th [lace was kinda a tie between Grandma C & Grandpa J and J and Scot. Both house had fallen at least once during construction. =) At one point Grandpa J took a break to play with A, little did he know he was gonna get beat up. =) See video below. Team 1 - Grandma C & Grandpa JTeam 2 - Scot and JTeam 3 - D & LTeam 4 - D & MTeam 1's Gingerbread House - 4th PlaceTeam 3's Gingerbread House - 1st PlaceTeam 2's Gingerbread House - 3rd PlaceTeam 4's Gingerbread House - 2nd PlaceEveryone with their houses.

Grandpa getting beat up - don't forget to mute the music down below.

After building our Gingerbread houses, we let A open one gift, and what a surprise it was a new pair of PJ's and a new book, Twas the Night Before Christmas. We quickly got her into her new Pj's and all loaded up into the surburban and went and looked at Christmas lights. A had a blast, well we all did, this is one of my most favorite things to do at Christmas time. There were some really neat lights out there. Dan is in for it next year when I try to implement some of the things I saw this year. =) In the car going to look at lights

After Christmas Lights we came home and got ready for bed. We had written a letter to Santa and had asked him to come a little early for the girls so we couldn't stay up too late. We woke up in the morning and were all very happy to see that Santa had received our special request and came early for the girls. Grandma & Grandpa came back over, we all had breakfast then opened gifts. Everyone got lots of nice things. The best gift i recieved was a Mothers necklace from D, J & A. It has my birthstone in the middle and each of the girls on the sides. It is so beautiful! Thank you L for making it.

Santa Came!Getting Breakfast readyA loves her new kitchen

Me and my girls with my new mother's necklace

Later that afternoon D and I took the girls to go see the movie Twilight-Awesome movie if you haven't seen it yet.

We had a great weekend spending time with the family and not feeling rushed like Christmas's past. It was great "family bonding". =)