Ramos Christmas Eve Party

The Ramos Christmas Eve Party was celebrated at our house again. The boys were so excited that everyone was coming over for the big party! It was a PACKED house! My de los Reyes cousins even came to join us this year! It was so great to celebrate with them! People started to arrive shortly after 5pm. Once the food was warm we all got to eat! Check out the pictures of the spread! There was lots of yummy Filipino Food that my Tita Li made, I made Green Bean Casserole, and everyone else brought appetizers, salad or dessert! It was all SO very yummy! Nothing that would help me win our Biggest Loser contest we are having! After everyone had eaten we started our festivities! Lola always has her games she likes to play. She has the annual money pot where everyone gets to guess how much money is in the jar and whoever is closest without going over wins all the money. She has one for the adults and the kids. This year, Maria Ramos won it for the kids! I believe there was $51 in it and she guessed $50. My cousin Olivia's husband Andy won the adult one. There was $97 and I think he guessed $96? Not sure on that one. She also likes to play the newest game on Television so this year it was Password. Only the adults played and once again the Wagner's won the most. They were able to get all 5 words in 30 seconds. So, since they got all 5 words they won $150! For everyone else it was $10 for each word they got right. Lolo made a game up for the kids to play too. It was Tic Tac Toe. He had the boards made up already and he had a row covered with tape with a X already in a spot. So the kids had to draw 2 more X's to see if they got Tic Tac Toe. I'm not sure how many kids won on that one, I was busy doing something else! It's tough being the Hostess! :-) They kids enjoyed that one.

After that the kids had their Talent Show. This has been a tradition since I was little. I remember singing and dancing when I was their age. You got $10 for singing and if you danced you got another $10! All the Grand kids this year participated with the exception of a couple shy ones. They all did great! I hope to try to post some video, but you can take a look at my cousin's blog to see videos. She has some on hers. After that the kids were getting SO impatient about not being able to open gifts yet we decided to play Mean Santa. That way the kids got to open something! After that we played the dice game because Lola had so much extra money left over. The kids played and than the adults played. Nicholas ended up winning a $30 gift card to Target and Mike and I didn't win anything AGAIN! Oh well, last year we were the big winners. I had won the adult money pot and Jon won the kids one. After all the games we FINALLY passed out gifts! This year the kids picked names instead of getting everyone a Christmas gift. It was getting way too hard to buy for each kid. This year was great! I think everyone enjoyed their gift and had a really fun time! Sorry so long but it was a LONG night! I hope you enjoy the pics! Thanks to Auntie Missy for taking most of the pictures! Stay tuned for Christmas Day pictures!


Taking pictures of the kids before everyone arrived


Marisa in her first Christmas dress. The things on her legs are from my friends kids store on Martha's Vineyard. They are called Baby Legs. They are SO cute!


Lolo and Lola with the Koehn Grand kids.


The annual Ramos family picture with the 2 newest additions on the end!


Don't they look cute?!


Bella and her brother Lorenzo


Auntie Missy gathered all the girls downstairs to take a picture.


The spread!


The Wagner family - Andy, Olivia, Owen (6) & Aiden (4)


The Dehne family - Matt, Missy, Noah (7) & Gen (5)


Our family - Mike, Myra, Jon (6), Nicholas (4) & Marisa (7 Months)


The Ramos family - Paul, Tesa, Maria (7), Bella (4) & Lorenzo (8 Months)


de los Reyes family - Nelson, Meg, Nina (4) & Michael (3)


The Cardenas family - Tom, Marie, TJ (12) & Anthony (5)


The Koch family - Jon, Melina, Evie (5), Eddie (4), Mena (1)


Maria played her little piano for her talent. She later sang a song


Anthony sang Jingle Bells


Nina was a little shy at first....


Than Anthony helped her sin Jingle Bells


Jon sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. He practiced dancing and singing but decided to not dance in front of the big crowd. He lost $10 for not dancing!


Gen sang Rudolph as well!


Can you guess what Nicholas is doing?


He sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Break Danced! Watch the video on my cousin blog!


TJ played his Trumpet. 2 songs! He was VERY good! I was impressed!


Noah sand Jingle Bells. He didn't sing last year


I can't remember what Bella sang....


The 3 Ramos sisters

Family Pictures Taken By Olivia Wagner Photography

Now that I have mailed out our Christmas Cards I can finally post pictures that we had taken by my cousin Olivia Wagner. She has her own studio out in New Prague. We had the pictures taken right before Thanksgiving. I had a hard time picking which pictures to put up here because there was so many good ones! Thanks again Olivia for the wonderful pictures! I will be placing an order after the Holidays!


Our 2008 Christmas card picture


Marisa was such a good sport even though she did not nap that good that day.


You got a sneak peek of her already in this skirt. I love it!


Another family picture that almost made it for our Christmas card.


Olivia told everyone to tickle Jon. I love this shot! Marisa is like what are you guys doing?!


Another close one for the Christmas card.


I love this one of my Hubby and boys.


They were having fun!


The girls turn!


My Precious and me!


Me and all 3 kids


I love Nicholas' smile in this one!


The 3 siblings


The brothers


A close up of Jon


Love Marisa's face!

Nicholas' Christmas Progam

On Tuesday night Nicholas had his Christmas Program at his preschool, Luther Church of Peace Preschool. I love their program there and love the teachers. That is where Jon went to preschool as well. Even though it was a snowy night we made it there all in one piece! Nicholas was excited to sing for us! When we got there his Teacher, Ms. Teri got him in his costume. He was one of the 3 wise men! Of course after he had his costume on he had to show off a little bit. So the first two pictures are of him having fun up on the stage. The kids did a really good job saying the poem and singing. They all have great singing voices! Nicholas is even going to sing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" for the talent portion of our families Christmas Eve party. After the program we all went into the Church Hall for some cookies and Apple Cider. The kids got to make an edible snack as well. It was a great night of singing and fun!


Nicholas being goofy on the stage.


Another one of him being goofy.


Nicholas and his buddy Micah. He played Joseph.


Nicholas loves to make this face now. Ever since the Apple Farm!


Look at how nice and loud he was singing!


Bells are ringing song. They all got a bracelet with bells on it to ring!


The 3 Wise Men.


Nicholas' edible Angel...I ended up eating it! :-) Not good for the Biggest Loser contest I am in!