Christmas #3

After we leave my Dad's side of the family gathering, we head over to Aaron's parent's house.  We are always the last ones to get there.  We usually let the kids play together for a while, dress them in their matching PJs (Nana always buys matching PJs for the kids), Alex reads "The Night Before Christmas" and we send them off to bed so that Santa can come!

Christmas morning is so much fun!!!  When the kids first wake up (usually around 7:00) we get a picture of all of them under the tree,

read The Christmas story,

sing Happy Birthday to Jesus

and have a birthday cake for Jesus.  Then it is time for presents...starting with stockings.

Here is Connor reading his letter from Santa that tells him what wrapping paper to look for under the tree in order to find his presents.

And he finds his scooter he has been asking for!!!

Here are a few more shots from the day.

The Nerf gun Connor wanted...

Blake gets a reindeer (aka deedeer)

And, Blake also gets a Nerf gun (aka...Shoot it gun)

After opening presents, Nana starts to work on the gigantic breakfast feast with bacon, sausage, country ham, biscuits, eggs, several jams, sorghum molasses and gravy.  After breakfast we just all hang out and do whatever until time to start on supper around 4:00.  Here is what we were up to during the day.



The boys put their Nano Hex bug habitats together to make a gigantic one (actually, this might have been the day after Christmas...oh well) 

Years ago when Aaron and I started dating, I can remember going to Thanksgiving at his grandparent's house and watching all the guys sit around and play poker.  A few times before his granddad and uncle died, they would be at Brenda's for Christmas and then again there would be a poker game.  So, here the tradition continues...

Watch Out!!  Grandaddy is armed and dangerous!!!

Connor got a headlamp for camping for Christmas.  Thank goodness Nana had another one that Blake could have.

We, of course, had a big dinner with turkey (deep fried by Aaron), dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, broccoli and cheese, homemade rolls (which are heavenly), corn, pistachio salad, cranberry sauce, asparagus and cheese and maybe some other stuff.  It is always a big spread.  Then of course, chocolate icebox pie for dessert, or pecan pie, or fudge, or any of the other million snack foods that Nana has made.  We had such a great time.  On our way there, I mentioned to Aaron that I wished we all lived closer so we didn't have to pack up so much stuff to take.  Then Aaron made the great statement that he like it.  He said that if we all lived close together, we would go our separate ways at night and that would be that.  He really likes all 13 of us under one roof for a few day, hanging out and just having fun.  I told him he had a really good point.  So, seeing it from that point of view, I wouldn't have it any other way either.

And lastly, our tradition family picture under Nana's tree.  Not the best but with two boys in a crazy mood, this was the best we could do.