Christmas With The Hartz's - Part 2

We got together with Rob's parents this weekend and did our Christmas.  We were hoping Ryan and Kristin were going to make it but unfortunetly Tyler caught what Sophie had so they were unable to make the trip to Iowa.  We were so bummed to not have them with us.  But we had a nice afternoon with Rick and Gail eating pizza and opening presents.

This is Paigey helping Grammie open her new camera from her kids and grandkids.  We decided she needed an upgrade with upcoming vacations and a new grandbaby on the way.

Trying to figure out what she's got

She's excited about her puzzles

a new ISU sweatshirt that unfortunetly did not help them win their bowl

helping Daddy...I think she helped EVERYONE

Baby Hartz is now ready for football season!  So cute!

helping Papa

 Rob's family has a tradition and this was Paige's first year participating.  They have a pickle ornament that gets hid in the tree, the first one to find it wins the present.  Normally with Ryan, Kristin, Rob and I this gets really competitive.  I've won a few times since joining the family and it's always fun to have bragging rights.  Well this year Paigey got to try.  We showed her what the ornament looked like and explained how it all works.  I had to take a picture of her looking before I actually started looking myself.

She found it!!

She was so excited to find the ornament.  She still talks about it!

Christmas Day

Ok get ready for a lot of pictures.  Christmas day was a long day for us.  We started out with our little family opening presents, then my family came to have lunch and presents, then we were off to my Dad's for dinner. We had such a great day and it was so nice to see everyone.

Looking in her stocking

Buzz Lightyear!!  Her late addition to her Santa list

So excited about her presents

Daddy about to take the 40 pieces to set up the princess castle

YAY Daddy!!

 After we opened all of our presents, Grandma Greta came up and helped me make my dips and hamballs for lunch.  We did snack food and it was fun. Once the Hiatt's got to our house it was present chaos!!

Everytime I held up my camera to get a picture of Colin trying to stand on his Dad this is what he would do.

Took a bunch of trying but he did it!!

Elise reading Paige's new book

These two kill me

 Then after naps we were off to Papa Gary and Grandma Pat's!  We had a yummy dinner and then 7 grandkids opening presents.  They all did very well and waiting for their turn.  It's funny to be a parents watching the kids open from youngest to oldest.  I remember doing this at my Vander Waal Grandparents in Pella.

Colin's sisters felt he needed help

Paige is into what Dylann got

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spent the afternoon/evening with Rob's parents.  Unfortunetly Rob's brother's family couldn't make it.  Sophie (our niece) got a really nasty flu.  But I cooked dinner for Rob's grandpa and parents since Gail is still recovering from surgery.  I had so much fun cooking for everyone.  I love doing that!!  When Paige got up from her nap she spotted her stocking and wanted to open up what Santa brought her.

Checking to make sure it's ok to open it

Her new favorite Freezer

 Then while Mommy was cooking supper Paigey curled up on the couch to watch a movie with Papa.

After dinner we decided to let Paige open a couple of presents but not all of them since Ryan and Kristin were missing.

When we got home it was time to set out everything to get ready for Santa.  Paige chose two cookies and she wanted to set out orange juice instead of milk.  We went outside and sprinkled her reindeer food (mom forgot pictures)

Christmas Cookie Making

Finally some Christmas posts from the Hartz house!!  Paige and I cut out and decorated Christmas cookies for the big man in red.  Paige had so much fun helping me with the process.  We cut them all out before nap time and then frosted after nap time.  My friend Brittany helped us with the frosting and sprinkles.  Enjoy all of the pictures!!