Christmas Day

This year we changed our celebrations for the first time. My whole life we have celebrated Christmas with my extended family on Christmas Eve. This year, Sandra had a get-together the Saturday before Christmas. Ryan and I had planned to go with Martha's family to a Christmas program that I had wanted to go to the year before but was unable to because we were taking care of Mom. (did that make sense??) Anyway, the morning of the get-together, Martha texted me that they were not going to be able to go to the Christmas program. It was a good thing, because I was stressed trying to get the meal and gifts together to go to Andrew & Nikki's the next day. Ryan was able to go to Sandra's get-together though.

I had to make these pics really small because they were blurry. 

Sweet Jess! I got to see them when I went back to pick up Ryan. I also got to see the little kids/babies as they were leaving. They were already in the car, but at least I got to see them.

Christmas Eve at my house was very quiet. Actually, Ryan and I ran to the store to pick up some last minute things. It didn't seem like Christmas Eve at all. Christmas Morning we didn't get to see the grandbabies because we had already celebrated with them. I really missed them, and it was a little lonely/quiet for me. (Mark and Ryan don't know that though) Ryan was so excited to be able to get up Christmas morning and open his gifts. Last year he had to wait till we went to see the babies open their gifts and then straight to Nana and Papaw's.  I think it was around 5PM by the time he opened his gifts. So, this year was awesome for him. I realize our lives and plans are going to be changing each year, so I am trying to just go with the flow. 

I had to wake Ryan around 8:30 Christmas morning. He had asked me the night before to wake him really early, but there was no way I was going to drag out early if I didn't have to. Mark had already been up awhile. He usually gets up early every morning. 

This year Ryan's big gift was a smart phone. It was actually free (Yay!). 

He also got Monopoly and an Air Hog helicoptor. He had so much fun flying the helicoptor.

I also got him a really nice electric razor. He is going to need it pretty soon. He does not have to shave every day right now, but he will have to before too long. Oh, and I also got him a video game. I honestly don't remember what it was because he picked it out. He was so happy with everything he got. He said this was a really good Christmas! It thrilled me that he thought so.

Mark got me a new crockpot (which I told him I wanted).

It even has that little warming pot with it, which I love.

Ryan helped me pick out an MP3 player for Mark.

He really liked it too.

After relaxing for awhile, we all got ready and went to Nana and Papaw's. Mark wore his favorite team's hat.

He has loved the Vikings since he was 12 years old. He wore his hat so he could aggravate his Dad.

Papaw loves the Cowboys. :D They always tease each other about their teams.

Nana had fixed a delicious lunch. Papaw usually asks the blessing but since he was dealing with vertigo, Ryan asked the blessing in his place. Ryan said the sweetest, most wonderful prayer.  We all thought it was precious. And the cool thing was, he did it willingly. It was a wonderful memory to have for this Christmas. Ryan is shy and usually will not do anything in front of others. So, it was a nice surprise for us. As he was praying I thought, "(his words) really show that he knows God".

After we ate, Ryan showed Nana and Papaw his new phone.

Papaw was so impressed that Ryan could speak a question into the phone, and Google would post answers.

Ryan and Papaw have a special bond. :)

After lunch we went downstairs to open gifts.  

Most of the pictures Mark and I took downstairs were blurry. I am having problems with my camera. :(

I know this picture is a little blurry, but it is a great memory for me. 

Nana took a picture of Mark, me and Ryan.

We had such a wonderful, relaxing time. Nana sent yummy leftovers home with us, so I didn't have to fix supper. It was a great, relaxing day. I did miss my babies though. ;)

I got some really nice gifts this year. Nana got me an awesome food processor.

Andrew and Nikki got me a cool sewing machine.

And Mark got me the crock pot. I am so happy with my gifts, but I am more thrilled with being able to spend time with my family. There are things that I would have loved to change and do differently, but I don't want to think about them. I am just going to keep in mind the good memories,  and I am very thankful for them.

Celebrating Christmas With the Grands

I just wrote a whole post and accidently deleted it while trying to edit it. "sigh"  So, here we go again.

Last Sunday we celebrated Christmas with the grandbabies. I fixed a meal of turkey, homemade bread, carrots, potatoes, cranberry sauce, and fudge for dessert. We went down after church and got there around 3PM. 

First we ate and then opened gifts. It was so enjoyable watching them open gifts. Haley's first gift was a v tech train we got her. You can see she was unsure about whether she liked it or not.

Maybe she thought it was Mason's?  Mason was sure he liked it. He kept trying to let us know he wanted the train in the box. You can see after Haley is opening another gift, he is smiling at Andrew trying to get him to open the train for him.

Bless his heart! And you can see in the next picture he is pointing at the box.

Awww  He finally got distracted opening his gifts.  Haley helped when he needed her.

I love this puzzle I got him. You open the doors and there are animals behind them.

One of the highlights of the evening was when Haley ran to me and said, "we got you a machine (sewing)." Hahahahaha

She said, "I will show you." And, she even opened it for me. I tell ya, I am spoiled. I did not have to lift a finger. ;)

It was so sweet of her. The secret truth is I saw that sewing machine on sale for really cheap and called Andrew to tell him I wanted it for Christmas. He gave me his card number and I ordered it. Yay!!! I love it!!

We got Mason and activity table that had a train on it. He loved it and sat on top of it.

Haley was so excited when she opened the princess play doh we got her that she showed me her happy face.

Ahhhh that sweet smile means the world to me. 

It was such fun watching them open their gifts.

See, Mason got a train too. Yay!

Nikki had a great idea of us turning the couch around to face the tree so we could easily watch the babies. It worked out wonderful.

She helped put together Haley's play doh princess while Andrew put together Mason's activity table.

Then Andrew opened Haley's train set to put it together. Haley was thrilled.

I love, love, love the look on her face. Andrew gave Mason the train out of the box, and his face lit up. He remembered it.

Andrew started taking the train tracks out of the box, and Haley decided she wanted to put it together.

Mason loved playing with the marble maze and books Sandra got him (Haley loved her gifts too).

After awhile, Mason got sleepy and I rocked him a little and put him to bed. Haley and Nikki went to play with the princess play doh. Mark, Ryan, and I helped Andrew carry the train set upstairs to the playroom. While Andrew put it together, I straightened the playroom. Then I went downstairs to watch Haley play with the play doh. Nikki was making sugar cookies.

I loved watching her make faces as she worked/played.

It takes a lot of concentration to get it just right. She made beautiful princess dresses while I wrote her name.

Andrew helped Nikki finish the sugar cookies. Well, actually, he just poured more flour when she needed it.

When Nikki got the dough ready, Haley helped her cut out cookies.

They were making sweet Christmas memories.

Ryan and Mark relaxed watching a movie.

Ryan loves me taking his picture. NOT!

Haley finished helping her Mom, then she went upstairs to see the train set put together.

She jumped up and down watching the train go around the track. It thrilled me! :)

After awhile, Mason woke and was in the sweetest mood. Mark trotted him on the "horsie", and Mason smiled and clapped.

He is such a little darling! I had gotten a picture of him earlier pushing Haley's stroller.

Ahhh I love that little blue-eyed sweetheart! And I love my sweet brown eyed Haleybug. :)

I fed them supper and washed the dishes for Nikki. I wanted to leave eveything clean because Nikki's parents were coming in a couple of days. I always try to do as much as I can to help her out.

I am so thankful we had such a wonderful Christmas with them! I was exhausted but thrilled and thankful for the day! 

On our way home, we had to stop at Walmart to get a base ring for our toilet. That morning before we left for church, we noticed the front bathroom toilet leaking. After we came home from church and before we left to go to Andrew's, Ryan removed the toilet and cleaned off the old ring. When we got home that night, he put the new ring on and set the toilet back in place. He is awesome!!!! We didn't even have to go overnight not using the front bathroom. I love him so, so much!!!!!