Final Christmas Wrap Up: Christmas Day

Okay I had a lot of December and Christmas photos to share with you, but here's the final December post - Christmas Day wrap up!

I used crepe paper to block the stairs so they could not sneak downstairs early to see what Santa had brought (although Shayla later told me she did and retaped the crepe paper - that little stinker!)

The dying tree (we got it Dec 1st so it was pretty limpy by Chrsitmas day!)

The kids on Christmas morning!

Stocking time!

Mitchell is an easy kid to please - the reaction below from a piece of candy in his stocking!

The kids in front of the tree Christmas Morning!

Shayla's sweet gift - a calendar with personalized month pages

Then we headed over to Rachel's house to celebrate Christmas with Jon's family!

The kids had fun playing in the garage while adults visited in the front rooms - loved this set up!

Have to say hi to the Chickens!

We were so happy aunt Tara and uncle Danny and our cousins came from Utah to visit as we do not get to see them that often!

Shayla opening gifts

Mitchell and Danny

Our attempt at a nice family photo!

If you can't beat them, join them!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

More photos of our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day can be found HERE!

THE END of Christmas Countdown - MERRY CHRISTMAS

So today is Christmas which brings me to the end of my countdown! Hope you have enjoyed the ride with me! It has been a fun month and fun sharing with family and friends why Christmas is so special to me. Every year since birth we have celebrated a big Christmas Eve day with a special dinner, singing carols, playing games and acting out/reading the nativity store. This year was no exception and we celebrated Christmas eve with some of my family at my brother Tommy's house. We were able to share Christmas eve with parents, aunt and uncle Doug and Sheelah, Grandma Betty, Tommy and his family, my brother David and his wife Amber and my sister Kelsy. More photos to come in the following days as I go through them all and edit them but for the Hulihan family who was not there this year here are photos of our family sending love to you and a sneak peak of the day's photos. Also, every Christmas morning since my birth has been spent with my parents and family around the tree opening stockings, eating goodies and opening presents. This year was the first year that I was not with my extended family for Christmas morning, but instead was with Jon and Shayla this morning as we awoke and opened our own stockings and did presents. I had my first Christmas morning with my own little family which was nice but I missed having everyone around too! This evening we head over to Jon's parents house to celebrate Christmas with them. May the JOY continue for you and yours as well!

Santa Shayla with lollipop

My family

David & Amber

Tom, Kalea, Christine and Isaiah

Grandma Betty, Shayla and Kelsy

Doug and Sheelah

Mom, Dad and Kelsy

Shayla playing Mary with baby Jesus

Christmas Countdown - Dec 23: Nelson 2009 Family Christmas Letter

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE NELSONS

THE NELSON YEAR IN NUMBERS 2009

This year, one of Shayla’s favorite things to do is count and so I constantly have numbers in my head. In honor of Shayla, I present to you – The Nelson 2009 Year in Numbers!

6 - trips out of state to visit family and friends (not far this year, only to Utah, Arizona and Nevada) including

7 - days at Lake Mead for a mini-college reunion with Jon’s past roommates! 30+ hours of boat time and 10 kids under 5 running around the house we rented there!

8 - hour drive to visit beautiful Grand Canyon and Sedona for mini college reunion with Larissa’s college roomies!

805 - our area code and the name of the website I started doing consulting for this year as a fun side job – www.805moms.com

50+ hours a week Jon is at work as manager of Precision Environmental, 10-15 hours a week Larissa tries to work a week for her non-profit consulting business

6 - hours a week Shayla is in preschool this year, she started going 2 days a week and loves it!

2 - trips to Disneyland with Shayla discovering her love for Mickey Mouse

30 - the age Larissa turned this year while saying goodbye to her 20’s. Jon turned 34.

2.5 - years since Shayla became a part of our family! We are lucky to say that so far she has been an awesome 2-year old and sweet as can be!

100+ beach trips, park trips, zoo trips, library visits, etc with Shayla and our toddler friends!

11- nephews and 6 nieces (with 1 nephew on the way) – how blessed we are to have such a large, loving family!

My most anticipated number so far,

8 more weeks until Baby Boy Nelson is here (Feb 26, 2010)! We cannot wait!!!

1 wonderful year full of great friends, wonderful family and happy memories!

We wish you infinite blessings and 1,000 of smiles and hugs for 2010!

MUCH LOVE - Larissa, Jon & Shayla Nelson