Christmas 2012

At the beginning of the season Gene commented something about me being all in the Christmas spirit. Well, the flu and having to finish shopping the weekend before Christmas while still recovering sorta changes all that. I was more "Bah Humbug" than "Merry Christmas". But we made it through the DAYS of Christmas doings and got it over with . . . again.

Perhaps I'll catch that Merry bug again next year and not lose it.

I've narrowed down the mass amounts of pictures  from the last three days to highlight all the loved ones that took time to invest time in us (and spend a butt-load of money).

Sunday Grandmother, Rick, and Tara (who gave us the sweetest card) came for presents and desert after lunch.

The gaggle with Aunt Tara and some grand folk.

For precious Aunt Juanita - She cried! It is BEAUTIFUL!

Monday Papa and Uncle D.L. joined us for dinner. Uncle D.L. barely got in the door without being attacked by happy (greedy) little people.

Life for the bigs and UNO Moo for the littles.
I now think that everybody should play UNO Moo - fun times.

Uncle D.L. then spent a few hours playing with bigs and littles. Mostly because we (Gene and I) got up WAY late and therefore lunch was WAY late.

Papa stayed to help Santa, and watch the kids take their annual Christmas-PJ's-from-Grandmother picture.
I'll post all the pj pictures because, well, just watch the four year old - and remember that often our "good" pictures are the product of 20 really bad/weird/funny ones. You try getting these people to just stand there and smile - just for a few seconds!

Well, at least they are cute.
After they endured picture taking they got to open their "secret Santa" gifts - they drew names last month and got something ($5 or less) for each other.

They patiently took turns opening each one. And seemed to enjoy each other.

The Daddy threatened them ever so sweetly just before bed about getting up at the right time the next morning.
They started waking each other up at 6:15. This was NOT the right time.
I got up and played tree guard until 7 am (the right time).
This is them waiting (notice Elijah's blue watch he got from Jacob and that he used to count down).

Then we woke up Josiah, Daddy, and Papa and dug into the 24, big, taunting, green and red packages Santa left behind. Plus stockings.

The Daddy was the official pass-er-out-er and only gave them each one at a time. Then made them pick up paper between gifts (it kept us from losing any children).

Then they got to open gifts from Daddy/Uncle Paul and Wendy. (They weren't actually there. Nana's stuff is in here somewhere - she came last month).

Then Papa.

Then those boring gifts from Mama and Daddy (they give clothes - except this year Jacob has lots of really nice hand-me-downs [Thanks Lyn] and only needed socks - so he got a booster seat).

Notice our homemade wrapping paper. Made from all the paper than came in shipping boxes. The kids decorated it.

About 3 hours later I took a really long nap.

They played and played and played and played . . . then they slowed down long enough to hug GrandMaMa and Granddad, open presents and eat supper.

Then they played and played and played . . . until we forced them to go to bed (late - again).

Here is a really disgusting picture (its pretty - but well, we don't really like this "they sure are getting big" stuff).

This is the present they "knew nothing about" because they "weren't" at the thrift store
(with Santa) to pick them out, try them on and walk away while they were paid for
(and they got blue jeans and shirts the same day).
13 year old girls still need dress-up stuff - just bigger.
Disgusting!

The big boys got weapons of whelp making proportions and spent as much time as possible having fun shooting at each other and sword fighting OUTSIDE. The camera and I did not.

The 4 littles all got roller skates. Since it was raining, and the living room and schoolroom were covered with bits of paper, boxes and assorted toys, they got to turn the long hall into a skating rink.
There is a video but it won't upload. Oh well! You'll just have to come visit and see them for yourself.

Gene and I got a few presents too. We REALLY like new socks and underwear (more then we should maybe). We are also having lots of fun playing with the kids junk (one of the better perks of parenting).