Friday, February 2, 2018

christmas day dinner

Merry Christmas 2017
The Karaffa Family
Daddy & Mommy
We enjoyed Christmas Day dinner at Oma's house.  It was the great ending to a wonderful Christmas season.  We are thankful for Christ's birth, family, friends, and all the blessings He has given us.

dirt bikes and more

The boys were SO excited about their dirt bikes, and we all went outside on Christmas Day to watch them ride them for a bit.  Plus, we love being outside anyway.

Brady
Brecken
Getting all ready and listening to Daddy give instructions & rules.
Brady is excited...
...& ready!
Brecken also did a great job.
(His bike has training wheels on his, so that made it easier for him to feel comfortable on it before riding without them.)
Even Averie took a turn and loved it.
Brecken & Daddy
 Meanwhile, while the bigger kids were riding the dirt bikes, I decided to take jump in the trampoline.  I love it!
Look at me...jumping so high!
Hutch
Murphy
He is about 8 1/2 weeks old in this picture.  So sweet!
A fun afternoon outdoors on Christmas Day!

christmas morning

Merry Christmas!  
Definitely one of our favorite days of the whole year.  Family time, talking about Jesus' birth, opening gifts, playing with our new gifts, stockings, laughing, and all being together.

All decked in our Christmas pj's and excitedly ready.
First...Santa's gifts to us.
Averie loved her American Girl market place...
...Brady loved his iPad (& case)...
...Brecken loved his police station lego...
...& I loved my double stroller for my baby dolls!
After a yummy breakfast and reading Luke 2 in the Bible, we prayed as a family and began our gift exchange.  So much fun!






See, they can be so sweet to each other! :)
Daddy & his boys
(Opening their gifts that they made at school)
Brothers
Sisters

They do love each other :)
Brady was laughing that Daddy got underwear for Christmas.  So, he put them on and decided to strike a pose....and Mommy caught it on camera.  He'll hate this picture one day.  But, for now, it's hilarious!
I was SOOOO excited about my doll house.  That's all I asked for...
...& Daddy helped me put it together!
The boys got dirt bikes, and they were sooooo excited.  When they opened the helmets, Daddy told them it was for a ski trip.  They believed him until we all went into the garage for to see their dirt bikes.  Their shocked faces were awesome!
Our Family
Christmas Morning 2017
Oma came by to visit and watch us open a few presents.
After a while, we got to open our stockings...always a fun time!



Daddy & Mommy 
(photo by Averie)
Playing with my dollhouse...and loving it!
Such a wonderful morning together.  We are thankful for Jesus' birth, family, and making memories!



christmas eve

For Christmas Eve, our family has done the same things for at least 6 years. And, we love it.  We go to our church's Christmas Eve service, head out for dinner at Bucca de Beppo with family & friends, head home to say "good-bye" to our elf, Tinsley, watch a Christmas movie, and then head to bed...awaiting for Christmas morn.

All the kids after enjoying yummy Italian food...
  ...& the adults!
All in our pj's...and taking turns finally giving Tinsley a hug (we can't touch her from her arrival until Christmas Eve)


"See you next year, Tinsley!"
Christmas Eve 2017