Christmas 2012

We hope all of our followers had a Very Merry Christmas & Happy Holiday Season!

Steve and I both commented that this year really feels like Christmas - mostly, I think, because we were able to wake up in our own home and enjoy Christmas morning with the boys. In years past, we have traveled across the country to visit family - but this year we didn't travel more than 30 miles beyond our front door...and we were still able to see nearly our entire immediate family! Another indication that our move to Kansas was a move in the right direction!

We were fortunate to enjoy three different Christmases this year:
On December 25, we spent the morning at home, and then loaded up and spent the afternoon at Grandma Jackson's house.

Reece's Santa Wish Fulfilled: a vacuum that not only makes very realistic "vacuum" sounds - but also sings and talks!

Garrett's Santa Wish Fulfilled: a fire truck & police car - also complete with very realistic sounds.
(I don't know what Santa was thinking with all the noisy toys!)

Garrett enjoyed helping Daddy & Mama open our gifts. Check out the tired little boy on the right!

Garrett & his new bull. They look pretty tough, don't they?

The Saturday after Christmas, 23 of the immediate Jackson's gathered at Grandma Jackson's home. Only 1 member was missing - our nephew, Brendan, who is in Costa Rica doing service for the Peace Corps.

While waiting for dinner, Garrett and cousin, Courtney, worked on a puzzle together.

Reece & Aunt Donna

More presents!

Jake, of Jake and the Neverland Pirates, made quite a few appearances this Christmas - including on this talking spy scope.

Ahoy, Daddy!

Uncle Billy attempted to help a very independent Reece with one of our favorite desserts: Grandma Jackson's Cherry Pie!

My mom and brother, Dave, also joined us for our third VandeBerg Christmas! Unfortunately I was sick with the flu for much of the time my brother was here, so I didn't get many pictures of this Christmas...but I did catch a few highlights!

Both boys love their new chairs from Nana. (Mama & Daddy have both been guilty of lounging in them too!)

Yee Haw! Cowboy Reece on Garrett's bull, wearing the bull rider's vest Nana made.

Garrett's chair is also the perfect spot to play with his new "Kindle" (aka Innotab Tablet that he says is just like Mama's Kindle)

We feel blessed that throughout the holiday season we were able to enjoy: three Christmases with family, many joyful memories, two happy boys, some illness, some snowflakes, and lots of good food. We look forward to some more changes to come in 2013 - and many, many more happy memories to be made!