merry christmas

A very Merry Christmas to one and all!

This year we are blessed to have Papa and Nana here.  We're also happy to have the McPhee's for their first Christmas together as husband and wife.  It's a good day!

Sometimes it's better to just tell a story in pictures...

Let's get right to it!  For some reason Brian got me personalized golf balls.  This crazy man will try anything to get me to play again.  Kids gave me licorice, or did they?  Love the Nana and Papa!
Unfortunately, Uncle Seth couldn't be here this year because he was the newbie on Border Patrol. He sent the kids each an awesome package! Such treasures only Uncle Seth could find...the magnifying glass was very popular. I foresee many adventures with this handy tool in our future.
This is a RARE moment, but I love it when this happens. The kids exchanged gifts they found for each other. My favorite part of the day I think.
The kids made most of their gifts this year. Ava made lavender bath salts for the ladies and Noah made trivets for the men. Noah. My sweet little giver. I kid you not when I say he spend the first 15 minutes of the morning, after everyone arrived, finding treasures among his toys/books and wrapping them. He put about six more of his special presents under the tree. I finally had to stop him or I think he would have wrapped every single one of his earthly possessions. Love his heart.
Ava wasted no time digging into her new polish.
The "big" gift for the kids this year came from Mommy, Daddy, Nana, and Papa. Big kid scooters!  This sequence makes me laugh.  Opening..Ava trying to get hers to open...Noah already done and off...ah, there she goes.  Now, I wouldn't be a responsible mother if I didn't give them the "not too fast and be very careful on scooters in the house."  A bit later I decided to have a scoot.  Worst.  Idea.  Ever.  I came around a corner too fast and the scooter slid out from under me...I went down with the ship.  Hard.  The kind of fall that takes your breath away.  Of course everyone quickly comes to my aid and all I want to do is melt into the floor.  It hurt in the worst way, but I was going to fight those tears if it killed me.  It nearly did.  Pride Sarah, pride cometh before the FALL!  When I landed it was on the edge of the scooter.  I am going to have one very serious bruise tomorrow...and the next day...and the next....
We got a Wii from the Coury's this year! What a treat and provider of entertainment for the day. I think everyone took at least one turn, and bowling seemed to be the game of choice.  The last picture is my favorite.  Isaac showing Noah NO MERCY!  He [Noah] looks so dejected!
Grandfather become really ill this year and had to spend Christmas at the hospital. While this was really sad for him, it turned out to be a beautiful moment. One thing this family does well is come together when the need arises. Jeannie suggested we all meet at Valley hospital and sing carols to GF. She went back to his room and brought him out, and the crew was waiting to surprise him. He was overwhelmed. As we started to sing carols (thank you Blair for getting us on the right note!) the sound filled the common area. People started to gather on the upper level to listen. I'm so glad we went. I've never seen GF tear up, ever. Beyond thankful for this family. And for Rose and Blair who just got married!!!!
...Ava was even talked into performing "Sisters" but only if Tori did it with her. Love.
When we got home from visiting GF it was time to eat and then PLAY!
Auntie Katie helped us end the night with some pretty awesome new jammies for the kids. Noah was clearly partied out because he did NOT want to have his picture taken...nor did he want to go to bed. He cheered up at the end, but it took a LOT of work.
The end.