Merry Christmas!

We had a really nice Christmas this year. We began our festivities on Christmas Eve. We went down to Perry to meet up with the rest of the family for Squirmy's first birthday! We had yummy soup and Lion House rolls. Mmmm! Then it was time for presents! It was pretty funny trying to get Squirm to focus on opening all the presents. There was so much to play with. Charles and Kaylee were certainly enjoying the new toys as well.

Then on to the cake. Tressa made a separate half circle cake just for Squirm to devour, and he ate almost half or more! It was really cute. He'd just stick his whole face in it and try to get a bite.

We left a little while after that and came home to watch It's A Wonderful Life. Love that movie. Then we tucked everyone in bed and awaited the excitement of Christmas morning.
About 7:30ish I heard the kids getting up and hurried in to the bathroom before they came down, but I was too late to see their faces right as they found their gifts. They were pretty excited with their presents.

This year Kaylee wanted ballet slippers and a pink ballet dress. She also wanted a jewelry box that played music with a twirling ballerina. She got a Cinderella barbie horse and the book Fancy Nancy's Splendiferous Christmas. I love those Fancy Nancy books. They are so Kaylee!

Charles wanted a new Buzz Lightyear because his other one broke. He also wanted Rex the dinosaur and swords. He was super excited with all of it. Though a bit disappointed that Buzz doesn't talk or have wings, but I think we've convinced him this one is just as cool! He got the book Bye, Bye Big Bad Bullybug. We read that at a neighbor's house once and he just loved it.

We spent some time admiring the Santa gifts and reading the new books they got and then we had a quick breakfast and headed upstairs to open presents.

Louis' parents have a fun tradition of giving the grandkids a science gift each year. Charles and Kaylee were very excited with the Solar System books. Kaylee learned about the Solar System for her science fair project earlier this year and I was surprised how much she remembered. Kaylee got a kit that has you grow a praying mantis. I think she's a little nervous about it, but it will be fun. Charles was so funny! He got a serious look on his face and says, "There are no bugs in the house!" So we explained that we'd be doing it outside when it got warmer... maybe at Uncle Jake's house! ;)

Kaylee and Charles helped to pick out a new griddle for Louis so he can cook his famous breakfast for us with greater ease. They really were quite helpful in picking and they were so excited to give him something. It was really cute.

Jake, Tressa, and Squirm chose the perfect gifts for all of us! Kaylee saw that unicorn a month or so ago and really wanted it so badly. She was thrilled to get it! Charles was overjoyed with his new game. He loves to play this at Grandma Jake's and he said to me, "Now I don't have to go to her house to play it, I can play it here!"

My mom spoiled the kids as usual. One of the things she gave them was an ornament. They were thrilled! Growing up my mom gave each of us a new ornament every year. It is so fun for me to pull those out and remember why she gave me each ornament and the kids love it, too. They have been so sad that they don't have very many, and so each time they get one they love it! Kaylee's is a girl sledding on a tube and Charles' is a penguin. Perfect! Uncle Weston spoiled us with three shipments of fresh fruit from California and UP. We all just love that movie!!!

Kaylee and Louis had gone shopping together Wednesday and I was very excited to find out what they'd picked out. Kaylee insisted on giving me these awesome pj's. Louis was worried, but she refused to leave without them. I got a good laugh, but once I put them on.... I never wanted to take them off! They are so comfy! Yay for Kaylee!

They also got me a new pocket-sized hymn book because Kaylee chewed on my old one when she was a baby and a lot of the page numbers are missing. I got a good laugh out of that, too. The last gift was from Louis and it was a receipt showing that he'd gone out and purchased a new dining room table and chairs for me! And the best part was it was already on a super sale, and then he got to reach in a stocking and pick a prize for more of a discount, and he pulled out the biggest one.... an additional 20% off! Yeah for good deals and thoughtful husbands! Yeah, I cried. So my table wasn't in stock, and the company takes three months to make it, so in March I will get my table and maybe I can host a big St. Patty's Day dinner party!!!! I am so excited!!!
After presents, we headed to Donna and Steve's house where the kids were again spoiled. Charles got this awesome remote control helicopter. He started flying it and attacked Donna's brother with it! It was pretty entertaining. Kaylee got a jewelry making kit. She was thrilled!!! She and grandma made her first bracelet on Saturday and she was in heaven! They also got the kids UP to add to the kid DVD collection for when we are over playing games. They even spoiled the new baby.... Donna found an adorable snugly blanket that is a creamy white. She was pretty sad to have to go so neutral, but we won't know until Tuesday what we're having.
Next we headed down to Woods Cross to hang out with my family. We enjoyed lounging around playing games and eating, eating, eating! I had a super awesome surprise when Dan Hinckley showed up to drop off some shirts for my kids that his amazingly talented wife had made for me. The kids LOVED the shirts and wore them the next day to show off. (I'll have to put up some pics of them in their new shirts later on because I was too lame to take any pictures that day.) Megan is awesome! That evening Zach called and we got to chat with him for a little bit. It was much different not having him home. We had a delicious turkey dinner that mom made and stayed up super late playing Shadows over Camelot.

The next day we lounged some more and played even more games. My parents got a fun new game called Word on the Street. I love word games, so I had a blast playing it. A highlight for Louis was getting a RISK game going with my mom, dad and Josh. I was surprised my mom played! She even won!!!

We ended the day super late with a pinochle show down between Louis and me and my parents. My parents won. We are looking forward to a rematch! Dad was such a good sport to stay up so late with us even with his early morning meetings only a few short hours away. We arrived home very late (or super early...) and tired but happy. We were all very spoiled this year. Thanks so much to all who gave us such nice, thoughtful gifts! Thanks to everyone who helped make this holiday weekend so fun for us! Hope you all had a super holiday as well!