Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year! People are generally nicer, and more thoughtful, and there is just a feel in the air that makes you happy. Even with how tough this last year has been for us we realize how blessed we have been. We have wonderful families that have been a huge support to us along the way. Justin and I talk every Christmas about what we can do to make sure the girls know how blessed we are, and in turn make sure they understand the true meaning of Christmas. It is so easy to get caught up in the gifts and who is getting what, and spending money that we don't necessarily have just to keep up with everyone. We don't want that to be what Christmas is about for us. We took the opportunity to make sure someone we know had a little extra this Christmas. It wasn't much but we accomplished our goal of making sure this person felt loved, and not alone during this holiday season. I know the girls are young, but I hope that they will not worry so much about what they are getting and think a little more about what they can give. The day we went shopping we went to Walmart and my sister in law, and Uncle took 3 tags off the tree and bought stuff for the Women's Shelter and someone from the nursing home. Then when they were done Uncle Doug gave the lady helping them a gift card to Subway...you should of seen the look on her face! It truly was amazing to watch her light up. Something so little seemed to mean so much to her. I overheard him say he only had one left...he must have been just passing these out to random people. What a wonderful thing to do!
With all of that being said we had such a fun filled Christmas this year. It was full of food, family, and lots of fun...we laughed a lot! I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted, and I don't feel like the pictures I did get do justice to how much fun we had this Christmas. 
Christmas Eve morning Justin and I got up and got ready to run some errands before heading out to Justin's parents house. We had to finish wrapping a couple of presents then we had to load all the presents, and our overnight bags since we were staying the night at their house so we could all be together. After finally getting everything together and loaded we ran our errands, and then headed out to see the girls. The girls had stayed the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house so they could have a sleep over with Madi.
She was ecstatic since she has wanted one since last Christmas. After we finished opening our present we got the kiddos ready for bed. While the kids got ready for bed Justin pulled out his computer so that the kids could track Santa on the Norad tracker before bed. Tegan was beyond excited. We could hardly keep her under control when she saw Santa on video flying around. She screamed "LOOK MOM, HE IS REAL, RUDOLPH IS REAL"!!! It was fun to see her get so excited. We set out reindeer food for the reindeer, and then cookies, and eggnog for Santa. Finally, we were able to get the kids settled into bed. We let the girls watch the Christmas Orange and they fell right to sleep. While they were going to sleep the adults visited and played kinect. At about 2 I decided it was time to go to bed so I went in and laid down. Justin didn't come in until about 4:30 because he and his brothers were playing video games. When he came in he woke up Tegan. She said something about being worried about Santa and then fell back to sleep. She woke again about 7:30 so we decided it was time to get up and see what Santa brought everyone. Santa was really good to the girls this year, and they both got a fur real dog that walks on a leash.
They got some little stocking stuffers, a game, some movies, and lap trays to color on. After playing with what Santa brought for a little while we all headed upstairs to open up the other presents. We were in for a long morning since there were 16 people opening up presents. It wasn't too bad and by 11:30 we were done, and ready for breakfast. We all got lots of great stuff this year. Justin bought the girls a PINK BB gun. I was totally surprised since I told him not to get it. He said he really needed to get it for them so they could spend time together! We loved all of our gifts, and are so grateful to all those that sent gifts for us and the girls.
Just because this is such a great picture of Grandma Great and Scout!
After we opened presents we ate breakfast, and then we got ready for the day. The kids just played all day with their new toys, and the adults visited, and played games. It was a really relaxing day. There were no schedules or demands so everyone just did what they wanted. It was the perfect day. Thank You Max and Julie for having us all out to your house, and for making it such a fun and memorable Christmas!
Christmas Eve morning Justin and I got up and got ready to run some errands before heading out to Justin's parents house. We had to finish wrapping a couple of presents then we had to load all the presents, and our overnight bags since we were staying the night at their house so we could all be together. After finally getting everything together and loaded we ran our errands, and then headed out to see the girls. The girls had stayed the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house so they could have a sleep over with Madi.When we got out to Max and Julie's we unloaded everything, and then I started making my Chili for Christmas day. We all just hung out and visited for the rest of the day. Christmas Eve we had the Graham's traditional meal of waffles, and sausage. Julie made something else that was kind of like a french toast, but it was better. After dinner, and everything was cleaned up we went down, and watched the kids act out the Nativity. 
It was so great to see them do it this year. After the nativity Julie had another thing for us to do. She handed out Christmas ornaments that had words on them and we had to say the first thing that came to mind that related to that word, and then the kids told us what they were thankful for. It was a really nice evening! We all opened one present. I couldn't find the girls jammies so they got to open one of their presents from Auntie Allison. Scout got a my little pony ferris wheel, and Tegan got a gumball machine.
It was so great to see them do it this year. After the nativity Julie had another thing for us to do. She handed out Christmas ornaments that had words on them and we had to say the first thing that came to mind that related to that word, and then the kids told us what they were thankful for. It was a really nice evening! We all opened one present. I couldn't find the girls jammies so they got to open one of their presents from Auntie Allison. Scout got a my little pony ferris wheel, and Tegan got a gumball machine.She was ecstatic since she has wanted one since last Christmas. After we finished opening our present we got the kiddos ready for bed. While the kids got ready for bed Justin pulled out his computer so that the kids could track Santa on the Norad tracker before bed. Tegan was beyond excited. We could hardly keep her under control when she saw Santa on video flying around. She screamed "LOOK MOM, HE IS REAL, RUDOLPH IS REAL"!!! It was fun to see her get so excited. We set out reindeer food for the reindeer, and then cookies, and eggnog for Santa. Finally, we were able to get the kids settled into bed. We let the girls watch the Christmas Orange and they fell right to sleep. While they were going to sleep the adults visited and played kinect. At about 2 I decided it was time to go to bed so I went in and laid down. Justin didn't come in until about 4:30 because he and his brothers were playing video games. When he came in he woke up Tegan. She said something about being worried about Santa and then fell back to sleep. She woke again about 7:30 so we decided it was time to get up and see what Santa brought everyone. Santa was really good to the girls this year, and they both got a fur real dog that walks on a leash.The girls and their dogs...they LOVE them, and this is all they asked Santa for, and with a little help from a Special Elf they were both able to get one!
They got some little stocking stuffers, a game, some movies, and lap trays to color on. After playing with what Santa brought for a little while we all headed upstairs to open up the other presents. We were in for a long morning since there were 16 people opening up presents. It wasn't too bad and by 11:30 we were done, and ready for breakfast. We all got lots of great stuff this year. Justin bought the girls a PINK BB gun. I was totally surprised since I told him not to get it. He said he really needed to get it for them so they could spend time together! We loved all of our gifts, and are so grateful to all those that sent gifts for us and the girls.Just because this is such a great picture of Grandma Great and Scout!After we opened presents we ate breakfast, and then we got ready for the day. The kids just played all day with their new toys, and the adults visited, and played games. It was a really relaxing day. There were no schedules or demands so everyone just did what they wanted. It was the perfect day. Thank You Max and Julie for having us all out to your house, and for making it such a fun and memorable Christmas!
0 comments:
Post a Comment