The Schwengel Family Christmas

Tuesday night was Christmas at the Schwengels! Joe, Erika, Ellie, & Jake, Tammy, Magaw & Papaw were all there. It was pure chaos with all the unwrapping & screaming with delight!

Santa's Helpers

GaGa always there with C-A-N-D-Y!

Getting way too good at unwrapping presents!

Ann & her new watch

Jon & his new watch

SILLY BANDS! (are they that silly, really?)

Grace got some of the coolest play food. All "Melissa & Doug"...highly recommend it. One set was a pizza with velcro removable toppings & slices, a food groups set, and a cutting board set...she loves it the most because all the food is "cuttable" (velcroed together). We've cut lots of food the past couple of days!

"Lemon, Tammy?"

Jon, Tammy, Erika, & Joe

Food!

Jake, hands down, wins the best reaction to a Christmas present this year. He went absolutely nutso over this RC racing car we got him. He shook, he stammered, he screamed, and fell to the ground. Gracie asked him, "You okay, Jake?" Priceless!

Daddy & Grace lovin' on her new baby doll. He's a natural! :)

Jake & his gianormous monkey! I wonder where he sat on the way back to Nebraska?!

New high chair for baby & diaper bag

Papaw got Gracie a whole bunch of new animals to go in the play barn. She loves those little animals...they go in the barn and outta the barn...in the barn, outta the barn...

Grace eating chocolate or as she says, "Cocklate". The hair bow was made by cousin Ellie...adorable! She is so talented!

Family Picture

Grace & her Magaw

Grace & Ellie

a bit too much "cocklate"

The Seelman Family Christmas

We travelled up to Flora on Sunday for the Seelman Christmas. Uncle Dave, Aunt Marla, Uncle John, Aunt Sara, Great Grandma, Grandma, and Papa were there.

First activity: Helicopter flying...makes us all giggle!

On with the presents!

Illini's biggest fan: Ruth Hall

Grace helped everyone open their presents.

Every year Andrew gets more tools from my parents. They love to work outside and keep busy with projects...never a restful day. Andrew hates projects and prefers restful days...He loves his Christmas presents from the in-laws!

Grandma made Grace an apron to wear while she's cooking in her new kitchen.

A PILLOW PET! We've been talking about Pillow Pets for months now and she finally has one! That darn commercial!

Grandma & Papa also got Grace a shiny new red tricycle. She has shortened it to just "cycle"...this summer should be fun!

Aunt Sara, Grace. & Uncle John

Grandma, Grace, & Papa

The Schwengels

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was spent at our house. Gracie woke up at a normal time...yes, how much longer can we enjoy that? We told her that it was Jesus' Birthday...this she understood...Birthday=Presents & Party.

She really wanted to open the big present first but we saved it for last.

Books go here...bows go here...wrapping paper here...very systematic.

Finally, the BIG present...a kitchen!

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Grace got to help Murphy open his presents.

Stocking!

Then we had a delicious brunch with Grandma, Papa, & Great Grandma and Magaw, Papaw, & Tammy. Seriously ate too much!

Clean up crew

Such fun!

CANDY!

Happy!

Great Grandma Hall

Great Grandma Hall Wii Bowling! :)

It was so nice to just be together on Christmas...anxiously awaiting our siblings arrivals to Illinois to celebrate with them.

Christmas Dress Pictures

I just love seeing Grace all girlied up in a dress and bows! She looked so pretty. I tried so hard last year to get a good picture of her by the tree in her dress and it did not go well...very frustrating. This year I bribed the cutie with candy for some smiles...brilliant!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Magaw & Papaw's. Grace received an early Christmas present...a kitchen in her "house". The lower shelf of Magaw's pantry has been converted to Grace's play house!

Grace's First Movie...Tangled!

On December 23rd we took Grace to see Tangled. We met the Vancil crew... It was Josh's first movie too! Grace loved it. She was very curious about all the people sitting behind us but made it through the whole movie without any major catastrophes.