We love to hotel it on our visits.....the kids love jumping on the beds! :)
Allison got a few new items for Christmas and chose to wear this one at our first Christmas celebration. After I took this picture she told me to take it at a different angle because this one made her look short..... um, okay....
And she was right- a head-on angle made her look more her normal height. Who knew? :)
Our first celebration was a "Loudenback Christmas", held at Scott's brother's house. We had fun playing a game of "bob for candy canes". Here's Allison, challenging her cousin Abby to a game. It was harder than it looks!
Aaron takes on cousin Caroline. He worked harder to make sure the other person didn't get any than trying to get any himself. :)
Allison received a game of Guesstures from Aunt Jenny, so we all played. It was so much fun!
Aaron opens a gift from Aunt Sheila and Uncle Jeff...
and he loved it!!!
Aaron gets a new hat from Aunt Jenny and Allison gets a new leotard from Aunt Sheila and Uncle Jeff. Both were BIG hits!!
We were thrilled that Grandma Judie came in town from Denver to celebrate Christmas! :)
In between Christmas celebrations we had a little time to hang out in KC. We discovered a really cool sporting goods store and had a blast touring it. I say touring because it was HUGE!! The kids enjoyed the aquarium and gave me cute fish faces for a pic!
Seriously? A huge ferris wheel in the store? Of course the kids were all about riding this!
Dad and I watched from below- it was a great ride- and just $2! :) We can't wait to go back!
Allison was lucky that we were feeling generous so soon after Christmas. She scored a new outfit... Aaron scored a new Royals World Series t-shirt!
Scott wanted to eat at his favorite pizza place in town, so we went there to watch the Chiefs game. Since Aaron got a card holder from Santa, playing gin is much easier. During the game, Allison and I ditched the boys and went to visit a dear friend of mine. It was great to catch up!
Later that afternoon we dropped Allison off at a friend's house for an overnight and brought Aaron to Nana and Papaws for his overnight. What? We were ALONE!!???!! This rarely happens, so we took off to Jack Stack to enjoy KC's best BBQ and an evening to ourselves. It was heaven... the BBQ and the alone time! 
The next evening we headed to Mom and Dad's retirement village for a "Hartzler Christmas". Aaron and his cousin Cooper picked up right where they left off last year. These two get along so well and just laugh and laugh when they are together!
Cooper's younger brothers, Jaxson and Jacen, open gifts from us. Are they cuties or what?
Jacen watches as Aaron opens his gifts.
Allison was happy to receive a calendar (that she's already written all over with events coming up!) from cousin Julie!
Julie and new hubby Alan, check out a popcorn maker they opened as a white elephant gift. We had a great time at the exchange. I scored a similar popcorn maker and Scott got an awesome Christmas print to hang next year that counts down the days till Santa arrives! :)
We took out Guesstures and had some more charades fun with my side of the family. My niece's husband Zach got into the action and did a great job!
My brother's expressions cracked me up!
The kids continued to play after the adults lost interest. I'm hoping for more pictures to come from my mom. She got my kids and her great grand kids all matching pajamas. They were adorable!! We took group pictures, but none are on my camera, so as soon as she sends them to me, I'll post! :)
