Christmas Eve night we always go to Mammaw Helen's house, my dad's mom. She usually cooks a big southern Christmas dinner with my favorite Christmas treat, potato candy! After dinner we all gather in the formal living room and listen to my dad read Luke 2 from the bible, the story of Jesus' birth. A tradition started with his father my late grandfather. We decided a couple of years ago to do a gift exchange like White Elephant, since we the grandchildren have all grown up and gotten married. It's usually pretty mild as far as the stealing goes, but everyone has a lot of fun playing!
Everyone still buys for the kiddos. This year I did the shopping for my grandmother and my cousin Cynthia bought the kids stuff on Black Friday when we went shopping together. Little man is all smiles!
Jillian got a LaLa Loopsy ferris wheel and a Barbie, and Strawberry Shortcake DVD. Thanks Cynthia, she loved them!!
While Wyatt received a steering wheel toy and a Construction track with trucks. Mammaw Helen helped him open his gifts.
He was very happy. Although it really doesn't take much to see that heart melting little grin! The boys were excellent that night, considering they didn't take very good naps earlier in the day. It's like they knew it was Christmas (Eve) and they were gonna party all day!!
Good morning CHRISTMAS!!!
Wyatt's first Christmas!!
He woke up about 8-8:30 ish but sister wasn't up yet. I couldn't believe it! Well, I could, she didn't have a nap the day before either. We went ahead and got up, and when Jo-Jo and Andy heard us they got up too, but still no Jillian. Finally somewhere around 9 the little missy came out of her room.
Randy and I were kind of disappointed though, she didn't even get that excited. I'm not sure if it was the haze of just waking up or what.
I think Wyatt man was more excited than sister! She got into it a bit more when she saw that Santa brought her LaLa Loopsy pj's and magnetic dolls. He's so clever!! She also got Dora lego's, Princess Aura's Castle, that's the one we thought she would have been more surprised with, a few books, a Tangled cup, a Strawberry Shortcake DVD, and some Strawberry Shortcake lip gloss and nail polish, (scented)!
Baby boy racked up too. He got a musical tool bench, a firetruck, tons of Cars toy's, a Bulls Eye the horse doll to go with his Woody doll, and some books. I know there was probably more but I just can't think anymore!!
Jillian helped little brother open his gifts when she was finished with her's. It was so sweet. He liked her helping!
Me video taping it all!!
Baby boy eating the bow! I think he would have been fine with just the wrapping paper and bows!
He wasn't quite sure what to play with first! We had a wonderful first Christmas with our new family of four!!
We had one more place to go after church on Christmas day. The Monroe's, which is my dad's, mom's family. They live in Nelson county, about 45 minutes to an hour from us. We ate again, I feel like I ate every time I turned around!! Guess what my new years resolution is going to be?!? Anyway, we also do a gift exchange there as well!
Me and my kiddos!
My sweet baby boy!
Jillian got a pink snuggie!
Little man finally took a nap, a good long nap! His Christmas nap.
The girls, me, Jo Jo and Miss Jillian!
Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. It's funny because we prepare for it by shopping and cooking and cleaning, planning and wishing it would hurry up and get here. And then it does and it's all over in a blink of an eye. Kind of sad, how fast it goes. I know Randy and I so looked forward to this year's Christmas, mainly for Jillian. The past couple of years she wasn't really old enough to fully grasp the concept and she's still not, but at least she got the gist of it this year. Seeing the smiles on our kids faces and the joy in their eye's, makes Christmas so special. Jesus is the reason for the season, and the reason we can all celebrate Christmas with our families!!
We have one more Christmas/New Years Eve/Day to celebrate this weekend. We head out to my sister-in-laws tomorrow for another family filled get together. I can't wait! My sister (in law) and I have so much fun together, and the girls just love to play and have so much in common. The kids get to visit with their NeNe and Pappaw, and get all kinds of good spoiling!
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
God Bless!!
