christmas with most of the trimmings

with maturing children, stover parents realized that christmas 2010 must be done with more frills and fuss than past celebrations.  thus...

 in the spirit of all the trimmings, we spent a lot of time doing family activities. 

(the tallest tree in the nation)

(a hike on Christmas Eve)

in the spirit of all the trimmings, we invested our time in 3 advent calanders.

(day 23- celebrating Jesus' birthday)

in the spirit of all the trimmings, we introduced our kids to classic holiday characters like cindy lou who and mr. kreuger.

(coloring some grinchy pictures)

in the spirit of all the trimmnings, mom spent a delirious amount of time in the kitchen making flavored caramels and drinking hot cocoa.

and in the spirit of all the trimmings, we even bought that one extra present (despite it being exhorbitantly priced pillow pets).

(much ado about a ladybug)

(insistent that he's done with his old pillow)

 at times, stover mother (excuse me, stover parents- because we shared christmas responsibilities exactly half and half!) was exhausted by it all and wondered if stover kids were acting a bit spoiled from all the excitement.  but on christmas eve as santa and mrs. claus did the final wrappings and reviewed the season--- we sensed all the trimmings were worth it! 

and in the morning, we got more confirmation that all the trimmings were worth it!

(the scooter that was hidden in plain view)

(stover girl is sure THIS Aurora's hair and shoes will stay on!)

(this candy cane overshadowed all other christmas gifts)

(stover boy loving his 'red racecar')