After we finished our family Christmas, we headed over to Granna and Granstan's for Christmas with my family. We always start with the family pictures before the kids get uncooperative. This year was a challenge but we finally got a good one. We even got a pretty good one of the whole family, thanks to the blinking light on the camera. There is something about that blinking light that mesmerizes the kids and makes them all look at the camera at the same time.
After pictures, we let the kids open their presents. They were so excited about their new cameras. I'm pretty sure I posed for about 461 pictures that day! They were snapping pictures of anything and everything!
Eden has a very special place in her heart for her Aunt Emily. She wanted to sit with her while we opened presents this year.
Ryan was so excited about his present! I just love that sweet boy!
After they opened their presents, we let them watch a movie so we could open ours. They just don't have enough patience to sit through it all yet. After Ryan and Lily woke up from their naps, it was time for our first annual Christmas Story play, starring the kids and narrated/directed by Granna. Aunt MerMer was the very important backstage coordinator. This year Parker played Joseph, Addison played Mary, and Eden, Aubrey, and Lily played the angels. Other than one of the angels getting stage fright (Aubrey), one angel getting nervous and biting her nails the entire play (Eden) and one angel hiding (Lily), the play went off without a hitch! Mary and Joseph confidently recited their lines and the entire thing was absolutely precious! I can't wait for next year's play!
One new tradition that Granna started this year was Christmas Family Game Night. We divided into two teams- TEAM SANTA (Granstan, Aunt Emily, Aunt MerMer, Daddy, Parker and Addison) and TEAM RUDOLPH (Granna, Mommy, Uncle Jon, Eden, and Aubrey) and played several Minute-To-Win-It type games. The first one was tossing 25 marshmallows to see who could get the most in a bucket. The kids all loved this one- even Eden participated without any tears. Daddy talked a big talk but in the end got beat by Mommy!
Our next game was Musical Pass the Present. Whoever was holding the present when the music stopped got to open it. The fun part was that each time we opened it, we discovered another wrapped present! In the end, Aunt MerMer opened the last present that was full of Chick-Fil-A gift cards for everyone!
We took a break for dinner- a turkey and brisket that Uncle Jon smoked at the fire station on Christmas Eve. It was so good and it was also nice that we didn't have to stand in the kitchen cooking all day. By this time, everyone was worn out but we decided to try one more game- decorating Granna and Granstan to look like Santa.
Team Rudolph had a little disadvantage on this one because Eden and Aubrey were too tired to participate, so Mommy and Jon (who was also holding a tired and fussy Ryan) had to decorate Granna all alone. You can tell in the picture that if it hadn't been for Granna's red pants, she wouldn't have looked much like Santa at all.
Ryan thought that Santa Granstan was so funny!
And one final picture for the night! The kids were exhausted by this point, so we headed home for bed. It was a great Christmas with lots of fun memories. We are so thankful for both of our families who made Christmas so special this year!
