Christmas Come Early

We look forward to choosing our Christmas tree every year and I enjoy getting out the ornaments and reminiscing about when/why we received them (so many of them are from my grandmother on my dad's side) and the pine scent that wafts through the house once the tree is inside and set up.  This year's 8ft. tree was a particular beauty!

Since we always travel for Christmas Day, opening gifts is done in stages every year. Years in which we head to Germany, the kids open gifts three different times! 1) with my parents shortly after Thanksgiving 2) at our house during our immediate family celebration 3) on Christmas Eve with Olli's family in Germany.  This year, they opened gifts in two stages.  Here are a few photos of them opening their gifts from us at our home before leaving for Colorado for the main celebration on Christmas Day.  This was also the same day as their Christmas performances at school.

Lukas' kindergarten class did a cute snowflake song and dance

Isabel's class sang a song with gestures about Santa Claus

Ready for our Family Christmas Celebration

Olli and Lukas received the newly designed German National Team soccer jerseys from Oma and Opa

Lukas received an acoustic guitar from us and the promise of lessons from a friend from church

Isabel wearing a princess dress with a hoop skirt!