We woke up to Christmas morning! Joining another family has taught me some of the ways that other celebrate Christmas. I can appreciate how Jay's family celebrates but it still feels so foreign to me! As a little kid, Jay would wake up and go downstairs to see what Santa brought. All of his gifts were artfully arranged in front of the fireplace. He opened them with just his mom and dad. After opening gifts, he would head out to play with his cousins (they lived two doors down) and neighbors. Later that night, they would all head over to his Grandparent's house to exchange gifts with the family. When we are in Asheboro we follow this same plan. I think this is our last year of doing this though. Santa has been fabulous to our kids and made several stops during Christmas week but next year he told us that he's only stopping by one place on one night :)
The favorite gift of the morning was definitely the plastic play food. I think they were getting a little upset that they couldn't really eat it though! They also received snowman pjs, an art easel, animal sweaters and matching toboggans, books, trucks, patagonia vests, and a play iphone. Spoiled little babies! Mommy and Daddy were pretty spoiled too! Mommy got a new rain coat and some fun new kitchen gadgets and Daddy got some new shoes and outerwear.
pre- christmas morning breakfast
We had a new truck obsession in our house. Holden can be in the middle of a crying fit and all we have to say is "Let's play John Deer" and he breaks out a huge smile and goes running for his trucks!
Emma Cate was in a MOOD! She wasn't really interested in presents this year. We had to hold her down to get pictures of her opening them!
love Holden's little baby/toddler hands
new vest from Gran and Poppy
He did this totally on his own... Holden is definitely my kissing child!
This girl was either super happy and funny or whining and crying. So is life as a girl, right?
new cat toboggan to match the sweater she got.
We headed over to Jay's aunt Terri's house for nap time. Jay set up the pack n plays and enjoyed watching football with his aunt, uncle, and cousin Christopher. Christopher's wife Candace and I escaped for a few hours to get mani/pedis!
We headed to Great Grandmother's house after our afternoon naps. This crazy girl climbed in the front seat while we were unloading at Grandmother's. Things get a bit crazy when we travel to visit Jay's family because they always celebrate late at night and we end up sleeping at his Grandmother's house so that we are able to put the kids to bed at a normal hour. This makes for a lot of packing up and moving our things during the trip.
I love the vintage style of Grandmother's house. There are some awesome furniture finds in there. We are getting an antique settee from her house to use in Shep's room.
New jammies from Santa! Of course, the box is always more fun than the toy that came in it!
These kids went nuts over the riding toy that Grandmother bought them.
a little panoramic of the living room/gift opening set up.
We were so thankful that Jay's family was really accommodating to us and went to early church for a change. When you have two babies on a schedule, 11am church followed by 12:30 lunch eats into nap time and makes for some really cranky kids at the lunch table. We attended the 8:30 service and had a little playtime afterwards before heading to Magnolia for lunch.
this kid can put down some bananas just like his daddy
our attempt at the fireplace pic
christmas pic with Gran
obsessed with the vent blowing air and making her dress puffy!
We headed home around two and the Christmas anxiety really started creeping in! I had big plans for Monday (Christmas Eve Eve). I had to pack for Florida Family Christmas and Disney World, wrap all of our family presents, make and monogram outfits for Disney, visit Santa, visit the singing bears, and enjoy our one "down time" day of break! Thankfully my mom and sisters called on our way back and asked if we would come over with the kids so they could make cookies. Jay and I were able to drop them off and unpack/start laundry for our next big adventure. Having family in town is SUCH a huge blessing and I don't know what I'd do without them!
This what the weather our entire drive back from Asheboro. YUCK!
My mom still has an exersaucer up in her playroom/basement and Holden decided that it needed to be played in!
WOW! A lot!! Love those vests!! Super cute! We have that same exersaucer and I'm currently trying to sell it on CL. I think she's over it and we're tired of the room it takes up!
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