Every year we say the same thing, “It’s Christmas already? How did that happen?” Sure enough, this year wasn’t any different. Another year ending and another year will begin even if I want to prolong the holiday season.
We left last night with this….
And this…
And woke up at 6:00am to this….
Paul always makes Christmas fun. 15 years ago on our first Christmas, Paul wrote tags: To: me From: Santa, Rudolph, or Judy the Elf. He also had many tags: To: Paul, From: Paul. And when he opens his gifts from himself, he is genuinely excited saying, “That was exactly what I wanted! How did he know?” 🙂
This year, Paul didn’t disappoint. We had gifts from everyone, including the Grinch.
I had to hold back my tears with every tag that said: To: Mommy. I know it’s been 6 years, but I’m still so blessed to have a little boy in my life!
Eli was pretty excited to get gifts from Comet!
Paul did open gifts. A lot of them. I failed him and didn’t get one picture of him, but I do have a tag above to prove he was loved and received many gift from all of us. Including himself!
Every year I give Paul several bottles of different brands of root beers. While shopping for his drinks, I found a bottle of Butter Soda. I had to get it for my butter boy! Eli is constantly asking for a spoonful of butter. I don’t know where he learned to like butter so much. It’s like he was born in the South or something. 🙂
One picture of Paul! It’s bury, but it’s a picture!
One of our family gifts, a paddle board! VERY excited to use it this summer.
I love my gifts from Eli. Last year he got me a goblet and I use it all the time. The goblet was so random, I was really excited to see what he picked out for me this year.
After several hours of opening gifts, with a break of orange rolls, we packed up and left for my parents for our second breakfast.
We zoomed Bryan and Shayna, and Ferelyn’s family. We had four sessions going, including the session Mom and Dad were having on the couch 🙂 I was conducting. It was crazy.
Mom and Dad’s session on the couch, ha!
Eli was very excited to show everyone his gifts.
Rin and Gage showed us theirs.
We zoomed because Dad and I sent out the ties we made to everyone. They all loved them!
This year we all decided to give Mom and Dad a family trip and their gift from all of us. Dad said he would like to go to Italy and Aaron said wanted to go to Norway. Yeah, all beautiful places and I would love to go back and visit again, but I was thinking a little cheaper and closer to home, like Lake Powell. 🙂
I’m pretty excited for where ever we end up going. I miss spending time with the whole family and this summer we will be able to have the opportunity.
After the zoom meeting we ate breakfast. Well, really lunch. Breakfast for lunch. Mom made her usual french toast casserole and quiche. I look forward to it every year. What? No picture? I know. I don’t know what happened to that one as well 🙂
Mom and Dads tree. Easy up and easy down. Or should I say, easy up the stairs and back down the stairs into a closet. I love it. Give me a few more years and this will be my tree. 🙂
We opened gifts.
I can’t handle another dog after Charlie so unfortunately this will be the only dog Eli gets. He had fun with him.
All the boys had fun with him. 🙂
Lu Lu didn’t like him and felt left out!
We opened our Christmas crackers
Read the jokes out of the crackers.
And then we had to say goodbye so we could head over to Paul’s parents house for snacks.
Eli was spoiled here as well. A double car electric race track. He needed a new one. He was using Aaron’s 20 year old version and his track needs to be retired. Paul and Eli opened it and began to assemble.
And assemble…
Look at Paul’s face! Reed jumped in to help out.
They worked and worked on this track.
And finally!!
After an hour of building we couldn’t just take it back down. We had to stay for a while to race.
We got home extremely late. Eli hit the pillow at 9:00pm and I don’t think we read a full page of his book and he was out!
We had another wonderful Christmas! Still very grateful and blessed for our miracle, our son. For bringing the magic of Christmas into our home and to celebrate Christ’s birth.