Christmas with Grandma P

Just a few days before Christmas, we set up the train. Zachery LOVED it!

Jared's mom flew in form California and arrived late on the December 23rd. The kids woke up on Christmas Eve full of excitement to see their Grandma.

Christmas Eve:

On Christmas Eve we read the nativity story and then the kids got to unwrap a new ornament to put on the tree.

I mixed up RJ and Zachery's ornaments and RJ snatched his out of Zachery's hands, apparently Zachery wanted RJ's as well.

Savannah putting her new ornament on the tree.

After the unwrapping of the ornaments, we went for a drive to look at Christmas lights, hopping that all 3 kids might fall asleep before we made it back home. We went to a house with one of those programed light shows. The kids loved it!

Both Savannah and Zachery fell asleep on the way back, RJ stayed up a little longer to help set out the cookies and milk for Santa and lay out the Christmas pickle for Santa to hide in the tree. RJ even made sure the fire place doors were open so Santa would be able to make it out of the chimney okay. He was a little concerned that Santa might wake up Grandma who was sleeping down stairs, but Grandma reassured him that she was a pretty deep sleeper.

Once all 3 kids were tucked into bed, Santa soon arrived.

Santa brought us Band Hero!

Each of the kids got Glow Sticks in their Stockings

Anything else in there?

After the Stocking we went up stairs to open gifts from our family. Being far away from extended family we get all their gifts sent to us by FedEx and UPS. A truck brought us a package just about every day during the first 2 weeks of December. It is always fun to receive a package :)
We saved all the gifts from family in the basement and didn't put much under the tree until the kids went to bed Christmas Eve. So it was pretty exciting to see all the gifts under the tree from our family in the morning. We are very blessed and are thankful for such loving parents and grandparents who helped make our Christmas special.

Before we opened gifts the kids searched the tree for the pickle. Savannah found it! I think this might be three years in a row for her. She got to open the first gift.

Jared made Savannah a "Zoo" to keep all her stuffed animals in. And Grandma bought each of the kids their very own pillow pet. That was the most desired gift this year and they were super excited to receive one.

After much practice unwrapping stocking gifts, Zachery was a pro at unwrapping presents and he wanted to help unwrap them all!

Zachery received new jammies from Grandma Bartley and he quickly took of the PJ's he had on and request the new ones be put on him immediately!

Lots of hugging happened this year!

Savannah looking for more presents for herself.

Grandma Pearce made her this apron.

RJ gave Mommy a new pair of socks

Daddy got a desk calender showing off RJ and Savannah's art work.

Zachery got a little people fire house

The after math.

The kids woke up at 6:30 and we were all done opening gifts by 8:30. So much for sleeping in. We spent the rest of the day eating, cooking, and playing games.

Waiting for Christmas Dinner

Mmmmm and out traditional Dark Chocolate Peppermint Tart for dessert

The kids sand Happy Birthday to Jesus before we cut into it.


It snowed Christmas night so the next day Grandma took RJ and Savannah outside to play.

Grandma got sick with a horrible stomach bug Monday. We just hung out for most of the day while she rested. Tuesday, she was trying to recover. So we played a lot of board games.

Tuesday night we broke out the glow sticks and put on a show.

Wednesday afternoon we said goodbye to Grandma.
Thanks so much for visiting. We loved having you here to celebrate Christmas with us. Sorry you had to get so sick, but it was still a nice visit.