The Great Christmas Post

We had such a great Christmas and sure hope you all did too!

We'll start with Christmas Eve... We finally filled up the advent birdhouse and made it to the big white dove! Must mean Santa is on his way!


So we dressed up in our finest duds...



and accessories! Every Christmas Eve we head to Uncle Harold's for a feast and we all show up decked out in flashing Rudolph noses and antlers or Santa hats! Granny wears it well!



Jack didn't think it was so much fun...



But once we got to Uncle Harold's and got out of the fancy clothes, he had a good time!



He's studying Grams' nose here...wondering what in the world it's all about!



And studying Uncle Aaron here, wondering what he's all about!



Before we knew it, it was time to head home! But Christmas morning brought more fun!



Auntie Kari, Uncle Sean and Maggie sent goodies that Jack got to open first! Look at that concentration!



It was worth all the hard work though! He found a book that he loves inside!!



Then it was off to Grams and Gramps' house for...MORE presents and fun! These weren't his but by this point, he thought they were ALL his!



See all the presents in this picture? ALL for Jack. He and Gramps were already working on some too!



After all that, he still had a little energy left to help Daddy open his!



After a LONG nap, he was up again playing with all of his new toys!



These cars and trucks and helicopters might have been his favorite!



It was a most wonderful Christmas Day!



Friday it was off to Manassas to see Grandpa and Great Grandma and Great Grandpa! Uncle Alan was also there and Aunt Jo Ann, cousins Mandy, Richard, Lexie, and Dylan all came over too! it was so great to see everyone and for the little ones to meet!

Dylan tickled Jack...



and then Mandy taught Jack how to play with the VSmile! She had all 3 kids on top of her playing electronic games! It MUST be Christmas!


Then Dylan taught Grandma how to play!



"It's much more comfy playing while snuggled up under a big Spider Man blanket though Grandma!"



Jack showed everyone how he can pull himself up..."it takes so much effort!"



"But I can do it!!"



Then he and Grandpa checked out the sales papers to see what good deals they could find!



Grandpa brought Jack this great frog that he followed around for a good while!



and a new Elmo book that they read together!



Full of smiles! "Christmas is fun!"



The next morning it was time to go. Time to head home and get back into our routine. But not before some hugs from Great Grandpa! Thanks so much for having us and we can't wait to get back to see you!



I think Jack was a bit overwhelmed by everything this year. Next year I'm sure he'll be more excited. He was a lot of fun, but just not sure what it was all about. We missed out on one of my favorite traditions - the Hailey Christmas Eve gathering, but hope we can make it to that next year. Jack was tuckered out by the time we left Uncle Harold's and we just thought it might be asking for trouble trying to get him to cooperate through another room full of people he didn't know. It was so nice to get to see everyone (except the O'Donnells :(!) and to enjoy Christmas as a family. We are really looking forward to all the fun the New Year will bring!