More Presents

I received a text Sunday from Alicia telling me to check our front porch. The kids were SO EXCITED to see presents. They were jumping and squealing and yelling, "Presents! Presents!"

I made them wait until I got the camera out before I let them open the packages.  The wait was killing them . . . all 45 seconds of it.

Gabriel got a game called Whipslammer.  He and Dan have played it a lot.

Grace got MAKE-UP!  She got lip glosses, nail polish, body spray, bubble bath, and this cute little carrying case.

As a family gift, the McAfee's gave us a rug for the step on our camper.  Love it!  We can't wait to go camping so we can use it.  I hope the McAfee's got a couple of these for their own camper steps too.  Alicia really could have used it Labor Day weekend.  **Wink, Wink**

Thank you, McAfee's!  What a fun surprise!

SNOW!

 When we woke up yesterday morning, we had SNOW on the ground!

 After a late breakfast, we headed outside to play.

 This was a nice, dense snow --- perfect for making snowballs.

 We tried several different locations in the yard for sledding.

 Grace was less interested in sledding and more interested in eating the snow.

 Daddy sat under a tree and threw snowballs at us.

 What a beautiful Winter Wonderland!

 Ya know where that snowball is going to hit, right?  Yep, right in the back of his head.

 My little snow angel

 Before heading inside, we made a snowman.  The kids quickly decided his name should be Frosty.

 Daddy threw some more snowballs.  Gabriel used his sled as a shield.

I'm glad the kids had such a good time playing in the snow!

Christmas Day

 After breakfast, Grace and I continued to build her Lego set that Uncle Robbie gave her.

 I thought it was funny that we build a Lego toilet --- or Lego Loo --- as I chose to call it.

 We went to Grandma and Papaw's house for dinner.  Grandma saved a gift back for each of the kids to open there.  Grace got a write and wipe board with markers.

 Gabriel got an Uno Attack game, but he preferred to play his new DS.

 Uncle Ed wrote Grace's name on the white board and he labeled it "Naughty List."  Ha ha!

 After dinner we pried Gabriel away from his DS and convinced him to play a game of Uno Attack. 

 On the second game I got Uno and won!

 Grace and Evie wore matching Christmas shirts.  Poor Evie did not sleep well in the pack-n-play at our house, so she was not a happy girl in the evening.

Christmas Catastrophe . . . no more wine!  Erin and I knocked off a bottle of Soft Red.  'Tis the Season, right?

Santa Came!

 Santa ate the eggnog and cookies that we left out for him.  I guess he was still hungry because it looks like he checked out the treat table too.

 The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . . and filled by St. Nicholas who had obviously been there!

 Gabriel and Grace went to the Nativity and set out Mary with baby Jesus.

 Next, the kiddos checked out the loot in their stockings.

 I love Grace's expression when she saw the gumball machine.

 It took the kids a bit, but they spotted Santa's footprints.  They were very excited to see the footprints he left behind.

 Grace also found a slap watch in her stocking.

 Gabriel checked out a new electric toothbrush and toothpaste set.

 While we waited for Grandma, Papaw, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Erin to arrive, the kiddos posed for a quick picture.

 Evie is a smiley girl in the morning.

 Gabriel was going to read Evie one of the books she got for Christmas.

 Once Grandma, Papaw, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Erin arrived, the gift opening began.  Grace got a "doll that looks like" her, and she was thrilled.

 Gabriel got a 3-D DS.  He LOVED it!  He is so much like me though, in that he doesn't show his excitement right away.

 Grandma and Papaw got a picture of Miss Evie.  They love it!

 Grandma and Papaw gave Gabriel a castle building set.

 Uncle Ed got a piece to a Christmas village from Grandma Mickey.

 Grace got a pair of Stompeez from Grandma and Papaw . . . she has been asking for them for quite a while now.  She was so excited to see these!

 Grampy and Barbara gave Gabriel a Beyblade Destroyer Dome.  It looks pretty cool . . . we'll see when it's in action.

I think everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  Gabriel said it best when Dan was putting him to bed Christmas night.  He said, "Dad, every year it just gets better."  I agree, Buddy!  Every year we are more blessed, and every year it just gets better.

Christmas Eve

We began a tradition last year of letting family come to us to celebrate Christmas Eve.  In years prior, we had made our rounds to two or three different family gatherings.  It was stressful trying to get to all of our stops in a timely manner, and it seemed that just as we got settled in one place, enjoying a good conversation, it was time to move to the next stop.  It may be selfish, but we enjoy staying home and being laid back on Christmas Eve.

Our kiddos exchanged gifts with Vada.

Robin and Vada gave Gabriel a DVD.

Grace got a Barbie purse that you color with fabric markers.

We gave Vada a Cuddl-Uppet blanket. 

When the Ellnor's get together, you can pretty well count on a game of Euchre.

Grandma gave Evie a bottle.  She was too busy to take it.

Robbie and Riley gave Uncle Robbie Three Stooges DVD's.

Lucy cuddled with Uncle Brian.

When Carter's had their Black Friday sale on-line, I bought Evie and Grace matching pj's for Christmas Eve.  I wish they had been Christmas themed pj's, but they didn't have matching ones in both of their sizes.

Mommy and Daddy gave Gabriel Beywheels for Christmas.

Gabriel and Grace gave Evie some books.

Gabriel got a Lego set from Uncle Robbie, Bobby, and Ben.

Grace got a Lego set from them as well.

It wasn't long before Gabriel convinced Uncle Ed to help put Legos together.   We had a nice Christmas Eve.  We appreciate everyone who comes to visit and make merry with us.