Christmas With The Schuiteman's

The day after Christmas we headed to my parents to celebrate Christmas with my family.  

Our table is officially full and the kids filled up two other tables.  It is amazing to see how our family has grown over the years.  

Max gave a few "mmmmmmmm's" as he enjoyed grammy's Christmas brunch.  We always have grammy's egg bake, fruit parfait, muffins and the yummy peaches and cream.  

When there are 11 grandchildren there just isn't room for the stockings to be hung so grammy shifted to baskets.  Look at that row of kids.  God is good ... we are blessed!

Next it was the adults turn to open their stockings.  We all still love the little treasures my mom finds to fill our stockings with ... still children at heart!

Alexa snapped a picture of Eric and I as we were going through our stocking.

We surprised Papa and Grammy with a new TV. 

With all the additions to the family we were all agreed that our kids are blessed and really don't need anything.  So we simplified Christmas this year in the gift giving department.  It was so nice to feel like things were crazy with presents and paper flying everywhere but instead our focus was on each other.  

Our afternoon was spent playing games with cousins ....

getting tickled by uncles ...

trying to figure out the new scooter ...

playing Nerf guns ....

and of course sipping some soda!  The adults had fun playing the dice game while the kids played their hearts out. 

We finished the night trying to get a picture of all the kids in their matching pj's on papa and grammy's bed. This is about as good as it gets with the whole gang!  I vividly remember taking this picture last year as we were so close to traveling to bring Max home.  Shane was the only little boy and I couldn't wait to see Max in the mix this year!



Little did we know that in the past year God would bless our family with a few other precious boys! 

Look at all those little girls! 

We had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with our family!

Christmas Day

Every year we rotate between Eric's family and my family on Christmas Day.  We were all looking forward to having the McDonald's Christmas at our house this year.  It is so nice to have more room to entertain and have family and friends over in our new house.  The kids were anxious for some cousin time. 

On Christmas morning the tables were set and ready for Eric's family to arrive.  I was very thankful that I got things ready the night before when I was feeling a little off because I had no clue that the gift I would receive on Christmas Day was a good dose of the flu. 

I have to say even though I was feeling crummy I felt very blessed on Christmas morning.  As I laid in bed my husband took charge of life.  He made a very yummy brunch complete with coffee cake, fruit par fee and yummy eggs with mushrooms and onions.  He also got 4 kids ready and was checking on his sick wife.  

The kids were excited to see their cousins walk through the door and were ready to eat! My brother and sister in law decided to take their chances with me being sick and come up to celebrate anyway.  They are so easy to have around and so I didn't think twice about having them come up when I was feeling crummy.  I would hang out when I felt ok and sneak back to the bedroom when I was feeling crummy. 

Max quickly remembered just how much fun it was to open presents. 

Max was very excited about his new truck and wouldn't put it down until it was out of the box. 

Shane got pretty excited about his Lego's too! 

Emma and Callie loved their Potholder Looms.

Alexa was pretty excited about her first sewing kit. 

The kids love having Aunt Molly around too!



The girls had fun crafting and playing with their dolls.

The boys wasted no time getting their racetracks out of the boxes 

and set up! 

These two boys are quite the pair! 

These girls are three of a kind! 

I would have to say this wasn't my favorite Christmas for obvious reason but in the midst of feeling crummy I really do feel blessed this Christmas.  First of all we have Max home.  I also feel very blessed that we didn't have to travel and I could crawl in my bed when I needed.  My husband graciously juggled the demands of four kids and entertaining.  I feel blessed that Eric's family is so easy going and it was fun to see the kids have an absolute blast together.  I didn't capture a lot of pictures on the day but that is just how it goes.  There is always next year! 

The Stockings Were Hung

The stockings were hung and ready Christmas morning! 

I on the other hand was not feeling ready Christmas morning.  I was hoping a good night of sleep would be just what I needed but instead ....

I took a picture of the kids as they saw their stockings for the first time and then proceeded to launch my camera towards Eric as I made my way to the bathroom.  The flu had hit. 

Eric captured the excitement of our four as the went through their treasures. 

You can see me re-entering the scene her and I was able to sit and watch the kids take it all in! 

I love the girls sleepy head look in this picture. 

The boys tried out their super hero costumes. 

I love this picture. 

Our newest little superhero! 

Gingerbread Houses

A family tradition at our house during Christmas time is making a Gingerbread House.  We usually make one of those kit houses as a family. This year I saw a kit that had 5 little houses so that that would be perfect then everyone could have one to make.  Little did we know that they were going to be tiny little houses.  I think we may just opt for the graham cracker houses around a milk carton next year.  

The kids decided they were going to make a little cabin instead! We got some cardboard out and wrapped it in tin foil so they could do some landscaping as well.  Max quickly figured it out and was into doing everything himself.  

The kids each had their own ideas and were excited to get going! 

Max was pretty focused and wanted to do everything himself until he needed more frosting on his knife or some candy.  He would then yell one of the girls names until they came to the rescue.

This may be why he needed more frosting on his knife so often.

It was so much fun seeing them all busy at work as they were planning out their creations.

Emma to the rescue this time!

Shane felt like the Gingerbread House pro because he had done it at school already.

I couldn't believe how focused Max was on creating his own masterpiece.  

This little house is totally Emma with all the bling! I love how their little personalities come out even doing Gingerbread Houses.

Alexa is my creative soul so this was right up her alley!

I loved how Max watched his siblings and followed suit.  He saw them making paths of frosting so he did it too.

They added candy to the path ....

and so did he.

Alexa's little cabin in the woods, notice the trees.

Emma's bright and colorful cabin on the snowy plain.  

 Shane was pretty proud of his little house and large snowman!

As you can see Max couldn't be more thrilled with his finished product! It looks as though he enjoyed some frosting and candy along the way!

Max's very first Gingerbread House .... what a masterpiece!