Christmas Eve

During the day, Aubrey got to hang out at my parents for some of the afternoon.  My mom sent me this picture and it completely melted my heart!

For the evening of Christmas Eve, we went to a service at People's Church.  We loved being together as a family.  Blake's family joined as well.  I love it when both sides of our families are together!

 After the service, the church made it snow!!  

We sat up in the balcony and we spotted our cousins down below!  I think Aubrey asked me about ten times through out the service if she could go say hi to Christopher. 

 We had to wait till the end, but it was sooooo worth it!  They played and played, throwing "snow" at each other.  She had it EVERYWHERE when we got home.  She loved it!

 Austin and Symphony loved it too!

 Then we went to dinner at TGI Fridays with Blake's family, Chelsey and my parents. (Sorry I didn't take any pics!)  Then, we finished up the evening by driving through the Christmas lights with Oma and Opa.

I don't remember what she was telling Opa,

 but she gave him a kiss right after.  Love these two together.

 Then we came home, Daddy helped them put out cookies and milk for Santa and then off for bed.  Aubrey "only" came out 3 times to ask different questions about Santa.
She could not believe it only one more sleep until Christmas!!!

Our 23rd...

Day two of the festivities was spent with my immediate family at my parents house.

My sister and her niece Riley Renee

My mom and her granddaughters

Below is Allie (my sister in law) and her sister Lauren.  We loved having her be apart of the fun that morning!  Little Riley is wearing and holding the gift Aubrey picked out for her.  :)  

This camera is for sure one of Aubrey's favorite gifts.  A real camera that you can put the pictures on a computer and you can also add custom borders and designs.  She LOVES it!

Matching gloves for the guys!  :)

LOVE this little ham!

Auntie Christy and Uncle Aaron pimped out our boys with matching...

peacoats and hats.  They looked too cute matching!

We made some hooded towels for Jed and Riley.

Aubrey Rose loooooooves her Auntie Christy and Uncle Aaron!

Aaron requested an umbrella he could hold for Christy and not get wet.  Pretty sure you are covered now Aaron!!  :)

Now Oma has matching plasma cars, so the boys won't fight over one.  This made all of us happy!!  :)

We spent the day together playing games, eating yummy food, chatting and catching up and being together.  It was such a great day!

Penner Family Christmas

In the morning we had our gingerbread house competition, then back together in the evening for more festivities with my extended family.  Here are a few pics from our fun memories...

My kids and my niece and nephew...

We started the evening off going Christmas caroling.

We went to Blake's grandparents house first...

and then to some friends from church.

After caroling we took our annual picture of the little cousins.  For a look back to last year check it out here of how we have expanded.

This year we had the kids reenact the story of baby Jesus.  Here is Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus and the BIG, BRIGHT star shining for all to see...  :)  It was too cute!!

And one memory that we will not soon forget...

Blake went home with a chicken from the gift exchange.

That's right.

My cousin brought a real, live chicken for the gift exchange.

Imagine the response when he opened it.

Imagine our thoughts when we were bringing it home.

Yes, a memory we will not soon forget.

We did find a happy home for this sweet, quiet chicken.

Our friends we gave the chicken to were so thankful.

We were too.  :)

Our gingerbread competition

Our Christmas festivities was four straight days of Christmas fun!

Day One...started with a big bang with my extended family.

We had an intense gingerbread house competition at my parents home.  I can tell it needs to be a tradition each year.  We had rules.  Many rules (because we knew our family needed them).  :)  We had a start time and an end time.  Graham crackers and frosting were provided.  Each person brought a specified candy.  Glue guns were used to speed up the process.  You could compete as an individual or a couple or a family.  You could bring ONE tool, decoration, or object to help enhance your house.  

It. Was. Awesome.

It. Was. Intense. 

It was soooooo much fun!

Dave and Arris' finished house

 Here is our log cabin!  :)

Complete with a bench and campfire...

 My brother, his wife and our cousin Becca made their Extreme Gingerbread Makeover.

 My cousins made the manger scene.

And here are all the little cousins in their Christmas pj's...

I have to mention the results because they are worth mentioning.  :)

About 4 hours later when we got back together for dinner, Dave and Arris' house had collapsed...

And the poor angel went to heaven....

Each person got to cast their vote and the winner was...

 Our log cabin!!!

Blake, Chelsey and I won!!

And we won by a LANDSLIDE!!!  Oh yeah!!!

Our prize for winning was we got to be the last steal on our gift exchange.  

Whooooo hooooo!!!

Can't wait for next year!