This might be one of my favorite traditions. This year I found some great jammies for the little boys and Brianna. I wanted to get Pete and Dave some that matched the little boys, but didn't think they would want to wear them. (It would have made a great picture though.)
We bought this cool gingerbread house because Charlie kept asking to get one. When we brought it home all three of them kept asking when we could put it together. Brian and I finally gave up so the three of them put it up the other night.
My sister helped by putting the walls together and start the decoration on the roof. 
Tom and Brianna were all into putting it the candies on. 
Charles was a completely different story. He was jazzed about doing it, but when it really came down to it he would rather play with the calculator than the gingerbread house.
Here's the final result. They (Brianna, Thomas, and Emily) did a really good job decorate.
I can't believe we have a seven year old! He's getting to be such a big boy. I wanted to have a measure of how much he grows each year, so I thought I'd start taking a picture of him with me each year so we can see him change and grow through the years. (I think it's a good idea, but that means I have to be in the picture too.)
He had a really good day. I made muffins in the morning and then we didn't have church until 2pm so that made him happy. Brian couldn't wait for him to open a gift so he let him pick one in the morning. He picked some cool little toys that are really popular now. Charlie was just as excited and you can tell Brianna's reaction. (She's going to love that that picture's on here.)
After we got home from church he could open the other few things we got for him. He loved the Star Wars Lego stuff. We went to my Mom's house for dinner and a family party. She made him hot dogs, chips, and fruit. Then he got to open even more presents. 
It's so hard being the little brother on the birthdays. Charlie usually gets really excited about the gifts Tom gets, but today was a hard day.
He really cleaned up:
He even picked to have a chocolate cake with Star Wars guys on the top. My mom was so nice to get the cake and then bought figurines to put on the top--enough for all the grand kids. He had a wonderful day and can't wait to see what the next year holds. (Please enlarge this picture so you can appreciate his really funny teeth.)
Yesterday we picked out a tree. We waited all week--when it was not snowing--to pick it up in the snow Saturday after Brianna came home from practice. The boys were so excited to help. Tom wanted to help Brian get it off the van. You can see how much help he was being. When Brian finally go it inside, he was covered in mud. I knew he would be wet, but not muddy.
Charlie on the other hand helped bring all the decorations up from downstairs.
Thomas picked the tree out and he was very proud of his choice. (It really is a spectacular tree!)
Brian turned on some Christmas music while we were decorating and Charlie started dancing to "White Christmas" by the Drifters (the Home Alone version of "White Christmas.) That was very entertaining. 
All the kids worked so hard to get the tree to look nice. They did a really good job putting up the decorations.
Here they all are in front of our massive tree. Merry Christmas everyone!
Here's what our 2009 Christmas cards look like. We will pick them up tomorrow and they'll be on their way.
Here's Tom opening his gift.
and here he proudly displays his new Christmas story.
He couldn't wait, so he had Gram read his book right then.
Charlie is opening his here.
He got this fun snowman story.
Everyone wanted to have Gram read a story to them. Of course there was some fighting over spots.
Brianna got her braces on today!! She has been really excited for this day to come. She has already brushed her teeth more today then she has in her whole life. We'll have to post some more pictures of her. It'll be about 18 months before she gets them off. Lucky girl!
