Christmas Eve with Holly's Family

Ady shared a strawberry with Uncle Alfie....

Alfie and Mark opening their one gift...thanks to the dollar store... We couldn't do gifts for Holly's family and not have something for Mark...You know he still believes in Santa...

We decided to do dinner on Christmas Eve this year... It worked out best for both of our families to exchange gifts and have dinner together...

Ady was so excited she has been glowing for days...but couldn't figure out why her tree didn't have any presents under it...and couldn't figure out why my tree didn't have a present for her under it!!! I then explained that if there was a present for her under my tree she would take it and hide and open it thought even thinking about it...so for her sake and my sanity...no presents until Christmas Eve..

I was met at the door with bubbly excitement... Did you bring my present???? Can I open it now??? etc... She almost didn't eat due to her excitement... She was so much fun...this was her year for Christmas... Matt's will be next year LOL

Dinner was great... Ham and baked potatoes both white and sweet... We went easy and tried to make it simple...but when you have "Christmas Dinner"... what is simple LOL We had far to much food...again...plates piled high (and I'm on a diet??)haha {now you know why I need to be on a diet!!!}

No sooner did Ady finish eating she was up and at the tree... of course I just sat down and my plate was getting cold... (thought those days were over...hehe) We talked her into waiting for me to eat...and then we would meet in the front room by the tree...

We went in order...meaning Matthew first...Ady second...Tanner...and up line age wise... We made sure that everyone got to open at least one present... Mark, Alf, Davis, Holly...Mike and I, Bennett was the only exception...he really didn't care or need anything either... milk and dry diapers and warmth and all his needs and wants were met LOL

This is Matt's first real Christmas...he wasn't sure what to do at first...with a little help from Ady and Tanner...he soon went to town ripping...gently...until he saw the backitball...then he jumped up and down

I took about 10 pictures of her opening her gift... she was so excited and really ripped the paper off....

The stove talks and the foods break in half... so she can share part of the orange... I see hours of play when the basement warms up and I get more batteries for the talking part (LOL)...

Tanner was surprised to get the new leapster...

After we opened up the gifts, the kids went to the basement to play with their new toys...from Gramma and Poppie...

Christmas day was quiet, power outage, left overs and a warm nap...

We woke to 2 feet of heavy snow piled out every door...

I was on tv as was John... using the snowblower and me taking thyme to Holly's house...she needed it for her soup...

Well... off I go to start dinner and relax the back... it snowed today and we are piled up higher!!!