Christmas with the family

It has been a week of celebration. After moms birthday party we hunkered down at Grandma and Grandpa's and decorated for Christmas! There is no place I'd rather be on Christmas Eve then my Grandparents home. It just feels right there. Helping them get ready was a great time spent with the whole family. Putting together all the traditional Danish decor, some very old and antiques, and some new that Grandma made this year. It was just fantastic! Also, seeing Paisley and Grayson so excited about decorating made it even more special this year! It was definitely warm, and didn't feel like December, as usual in California, but it was a great day!

While Hector and Lauren did the lights we prepared some food and more indoor decorating. Of course running inside and outside with the little ones getting to explore at grandma and grandpas house. Which I have to add, as kids their home never got old to be at. There was always something to do, whether it be playing with the hundreds of collected McDonald's toys, making art, playing a game, rolling in mud, or climbing on the apricot tree in the front yard. So with Pais and Grayson we absolutely had to climb up that tree, which when I was a kid seemed so much bigger! 

Lauren and Hector working hard on the Christmas lights...

At one point both Paisley and Grayson got to go up on the roof with Lauren, and they were loving it! Look at these smiles....

So many good times at this home! Then we got to decorating one of the most special parts that I love about Christmas Eve, the Christmas tree! My grandparents are both Danish, born and raised there, and we have always had a Danish Christmas...very very traditional every year! I love it. 

My Grandma made almost all of these decorations, as a child she remembers having these same kinds of decorations on her Christmas tree in Denmark. I'm always impressed with her little crafts.

Another tradition is making these hearts and filling them up with candy for the children in the family.

Some decorations were bottom heavy ;) (kiddos)

 Everyone was helping..

This is an ornament that my Grandma has had since she was just a kid, she has had it all these years and every year he makes it on the tree..even with only one eye left.

This year Paisley got to put the star up on the tree, man was she excited!! 

And of course the crazy elves. I'm not sure what they are called exactly, but we always put them all around the house! Hector, my Dad, and Zach went a little crazy this year and made it pretty hilarious..

And that was the end of our lovely family filled afternoon! Next to come is Christmas Eve!!!