Christmas Day (Shipman Family Christmas)

I didn't get many pictures of us Christmas morning because we only had a few presents for Will to open as Zak and I exchanged gifts the night before. Note to self: It's a lot to accomplish to open family presents, get everyone showered, dressed and ready and get over to do Christmas morning at the Grandparents by 9:30am!!! But pat on the back, we successfully did it! As for the picture, we had just given Will this leaf blower, bulldozer, clothes and a few books. He was so excited that Santa had brought him this blower! ....unfortunately the blower only lasted about 3 weeks when Will whacked it on the fire place and the whole thing fell apart. He is still devastated over the whole thing and would like to know when Santa can bring him another one! :) 

               Just a few quick family photos! No one quite knows how to make Will laugh like Bampa!

Will with Aunt Miranda!

Needless to say, Will was beside himself over all the presents he could barely contain himself. One of the perks I guess of being the first grandchild! 

Thanking Aunt Miranda for her present! Soo sweet!

Of course every gift Will opened had to be taken out of these boxes that I swear they hope you never get in to! Will did NOT understand why it would take so long to get each toy out of the box...a good lesson in patience son!

Nana and Bampa got Will this snazzy new hat and matching mittens. Will had never worn mittens before and he absolutely loves them. He ran around saying he was a monster and we going to get us with his mittens. So cute. The weather this year was beautiful so the boys headed out to shoot this air gun that shoots out these balls in the front yard.

Well it only took me two months to document Christmas. With delivery only 3 weeks away I realized I better get my act together or it will be as though this past 6 months never happened! Here's to trying to do better capturing life here at the Shipman's! Merry Christmas! (2 months late!)

Christmas Eve (Pierce Family Christmas)

In the past we have alternated between my family and Zak's family with Christmas and Christmas Eve. This year we spent Christmas Eve Day as though it was Christmas Day with my family. Will was beside himself with excitement to see what Santa Clause was going to bring! We got up, had breakfast and headed over to Mom and Dad's about 10:00 to start the Christmas festivities! As soon as we got there, I insisted on getting some family shots or else I knew it would never happen. I was pleased, but the kids not so much! :)

                        Pop holding all the kiddos...you can see how much they love being photographed! 

A few family shots with me 6 1/2 months preggo and still feeling pretty good!

Look at these two photogenic little monkeys! At this point they were completely DONE with all the pictures and I believe this face from Lucy is as if to say, Aunt Caroline can you please just let us play! 

Uncle Drew and Mamma (CiCi)

Sisters!

CiCi hanging with the kiddos before opening presents! They were sooo ready to start!

Let the fun begin!

The kids big gifts from my parents were this lovely black truck that Dad ordered that came with the tool box and hard hat...Will was convinced from this point on that he was Bob the Builder! I wish I had taken a picture of Miss Lucy's new kitchen, but she got this awesome kitchen that took Dad 6 hours to put together! She absolutely loved it and for that matter, so did Will!

After not taking a single picture Thanksgiving day I was committed to getting lots of pictures of Christmas this year before we go from a family of 3 to a family of 4. Truly such a fun stage to see how much these toddlers get in to Christmas and Santa! Two months ago we were still working on the concept of Jesus's birthday being the real meaning of Christmas. But every time I would say, "Christmas is Jesus' birthday!" Will would respond by saying "No Jesus! Those are my presents!" Lord help me! We have a lot of teaching to do!

Shipman Family Christmas

This year we got together the weekend before Christmas with my father in laws extended family to share a nice meal and celebrate Christmas together as a family. The Shipman family has been through a lot this past year as we have all prayed and prayed for healing for Zak's cousin Lauren who has battled cancer for this last year. She unfortunately was rushed to the hospital the night before the get together and was unable to make it due to complications. We missed her dearly and continue to pray for a miracle!

These sweet girls are Zak's cousin Carl's little girls, Reese and Eve. They were so good with Will and he absolutely adored them!

He just looks like a little rascal doesn't he!?!

The whole gang! What a nice day we had!

Christmas Card Outtakes

It seems to go this way every year... but initially I told Zak I wasn't going to do Christmas cards this year with being pregnant and having only 3 weeks in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, the mom guilt crept in and I caved! This of course meant taking my sweet, but very energetic little monkey out to take some pictures. With terrible weather on the weekends I had to suck it up and take him without Daddy which I must say I thought went surprisingly well.

Side note: I always love receiving Christmas cards with the whole family in the shot and displaying them on the mantel for months! Unfortunately though, to try and find someone to come and take a few quick family pictures where we are all looking at the camera and smiling is almost too much to ask at this stage of the game! That said, next fall I would LOVE to hire someone who actually knows what they are doing to come get some sweet family pictures!

Below are just a few of the ones that didn't make the cut...

 

I know it's months late but I knew if I didn't get all these Christmas posts up I would regret not documenting these sweet memories!