Christmas was a whirlwind {like always} this year. We had six Christmases, and they were all super fun. The thing is, we are so close to all our family, which is a huge blessing. I am so thankful that the kids can go and have Christmas with their grandparents and great grandparents...then we get to only drive 15 minutes back home and not get on a plane or drive hours in a car.
The first Christmas was with my family {the Carfreys} was at my Grandma's and then at our house. We went to Grandma's for lunch and some gifts. We had all chipped and got my grandma a new tv. She was sooo excited. She cried and laughed, and cried some more. It was great. Then, after Christmas we hosted my family here at our house. The hit of the night was Natalie's scooter from Joey and Kristin and her princess tent from Lindsey and Ben. She was so excited about both of those! The boys got a tetherball set, their NERF Vortex guns, and marshmallow shooters {thanks to Lindsey and Ben for those....I'm STILL picking up marshmallows}.
The next Christmas was on Christmas Eve.
We had it at Derrick's grandparents' house. We got there for lunch, and ate and visited until it was present time. Since Omi had eye surgery right before Christmas, she made sure each of the kids had three gifts to open...and the adults go their gifts at a later Christmas celebration. It was cool, because each of the kids got a game, some clothes, and a pair of pjs. So fun!
After the gifting was done, Natalie settled down to play Candyland with Auntie Devon and the older adults/kids settled in with their new games. The boys got Jenga and Connect Four Launchers. Both of those are really fun games!
Christmas Day was sort of a whirlwind. We started with stockings before church, and cinnamon rolls. They didn't turn out as great as I had hoped, but it was ok. We opened stockings and the kids were perfectly happy with that. Natalie didn't really get into the opening this year. She just kind of wanted to play and hang out. She was super excited about her Pooh Bear LEGOS in her stocking, and the boys were so content playing with their LEGO flashlights that it probably wouldn't have mattered if we didn't open any more gifts.
After church, we came home and changed. Then, it was full fledged gift time. The boys got skateboards, clothes, remote control cars, an XBOX 360 w Kinect {which we hid in the basement and did a "reveal" after we were all done upstairs}. They were so surprised and excited. They were also excited about their whole series of Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Which now, a few weeks later, Lucas is already on the fourth one. They are absolutely devouring them. Add in some DS games and LEGOS, and they were happy campers.
Derrick got me a new Mac computer {which I desperately needed}, some UGGS {he totally took the hint on those}, and some clothes and pjs. I got him some PUMA shoes {he was so excited about those...too funny}, some clothes, and a back massager. I also got him a new coat and a puffy vest. Natalie's gifts were so fun, too. We got her a play kitchen {score at OUAC earlier this fall}, some clothes, and a Cabbage Patch Doll. Let me tell you, giving her that Cabbage Patch doll was so awesome. It was a vintage one...like I used to have...her birthday is 1983. Also, some Zhu Zhu pets, a runway for them, and tons of food for her kitchen. It was so cool.
Later that night, after we had broken in the XBox, and my new computer was set up, we headed over to my Grandma Mae's. We had dinner with my whole extended family, and the kids put on the Christmas story play. My mom makes sure that the last few years, each kid has a part in the play and they perform it for the adults. It's so cute, and the costumes she comes up with are extremely creative. This year for a donkey, she used an Eeyore. Yeah, that's how my mom thinks.
Then it was Christmas with the Hursts. Talk about Christmas overload. It's always so fun, though. My mother in law did something very cute this year-she wrapped all the gifts in the same paper. Their living room looked so fun....and full of gifts. We ate all day/night. We arrived around 1, and we were there until about 10. We brought home some VERY tired, overstimulated children. The best part was giving Daniel a laptop for Afghanistan and my father in law's reaction to his iPad. He has wanted one for so long, and we finally got him one! It was so cool. He was beyond shocked!
The boys were excited about some new LEGOS and their Beyblade arena. My in laws also got everyone towels with their names on them, which were very cute and creative. I was so thankful for the scrapbooking organizing stuff I got and my new mixer! Yay!
We all got a laugh out of my mother in laws pajama jeans that she got. Too funny. She put them right on, and was happy the rest of the night! Darragh took it upon herself to make everyone pillows or blankets from fleece. Our pillows are really cute, and Natalie LOVES her blanket.
Wow, Christmas was busy this year. Many years {like this one}, I feel like I don't get a relaxing two weeks off of school. But when I look back, I'm so glad we have so many sweet families to share our holiday with.
