Christmas day was full of fun and excitement with twelve little kids around. We somehow managed to fit all 24 stockings and gifts in the living around the tree.
All the stockings hung by the fire – Mom has made a stocking for each in-law and baby as they’ve joined the family.
All the grandkids followed tradition and lined up in the family room from youngest to oldest until they heard the Christmas music signaling it was time to go in by the tree.
The boys were all pretty excited for their gifts. The thing they were probably most excited about out of everything was their stuffed minions they found in their stockings (James got a stuffed Mickey Mouse).
Asher liked his stocking too, especially his yogurt melts and books.
We gave them their gifts this year in categories: something they want, something to wear, something they need (or to learn), and something to read this year. They opened their books the night before, but they each got a shirt and a pair of shoes to wear, Landon and Davis got a Wii charger and James a Spot It ABC game. For their gifts they want, Landon got some spy gear, Davis some Kid K’nex, James a bouncing horse, and Asher a treasure box toy. From Santa they got a baby swing and a glider swing for our play structure.
We took a break after looking at our Santa gifts and parent gifts to eat some traditional croissants and hot chocolate for breakfast.
After breakfast, we finished opening the gifts, including the ones from Grandma and Grandpa, and the ones the cousins gave each other (they drew names). Here’s Landon and Davis wearing their homemade aprons from Grandma (James refused to wear his for the picture – which is funny since he wants to wear his every night to help me make dinner. Crazy three-year-olds.)
After the gift opening, we had our usual lunch of our favorite appetizers, and spent the rest of the day relaxing, playing with new toys, jumping on the trampoline (the kids), and going on a walk. The end came to a close too quickly when Dave and Liz had to leave in the afternoon to go back to California. It was fun to all be together for a couple of days. Who knows when the next time will be? We did manage to all get a picture together (thanks to Dave for organizing it all and Stacey for setting up her camera with the timer. My dad was actually super super sick all day, so we weren’t sure if he’d make it, but he managed to come out and fake a smile).
From left to right: Dave, Liz, and baby Olivia; Shane with Asher, me, Davis, Landon and James; Nate, Becky holding two-week old Eliza, Ryan, and Bennett; Dad and Mom; Stacey, Jake holding Maggie, Kallie, and Ethan; Bryce, Camille holding Avery.
