Christmas

Christmas Eve was on a Sunday and I was majorly fist pumping that I had the whole family dressed and ready EARLY for 10am church! It was just sacrament meeting, but it went really long. The other ward was waiting in the hall as we got out. 

It was so nice to have the talent portion of the Christmas Eve program done two weeks ago. So it was just dinner, acting out the nativity and opening pajama pants! Baseball pattern this year.... score! :) 

Tanner was a good sport being precariously held by his 6 year old parents. 

Can you guess whose name is under that piece of paper with Tanner on it? It truly broke my heart. Yep, Joshua. I might switch out the tags next year. I don't think I can bear that reminder each Christmas Eve.

Grandpa's dapper top hat kinda made me giggle.

Travis had quite a few projects to assemble this Christmas! A doll house, a foosball table and electric scooters. Woof. Thank you, babe.

That missing section of lights sure is the finishing touch on this otherwise pretty picture!

Watching them all wake up and run in was so much fun. Kids on Christmas morning... the stereotypes are all true. Lit up faces, exclamations of joy, running around checking everything out. It's magical.

So glad I didn't forget Tanner... the kids would have been very concerned, lol! He got two new chew toys.

Once all the presents were opened, we brought out the last surprise!

Tortoises!!!

This wasn't a planned present, but a few days ago Travis saw a friend's Instagram account advertising tortoises for sale. Why not?! I knew the kids would love it. Since the goldfish had died it seemed like the next easiest pet. Travis left to pick one up and came home with two. 

"So they have a friend", he said. :)

We didn't name them right away.... I feel like kids usually come up with strange names so I wanted them to think about it and toss around ideas for a while. A couple weeks later we were driving and they said people kept asking them what the tortoises names were and that we needed to decide on them. Weston wanted to name one Jeffy. I said, "But that's your uncle's name. We can't name it that!" Then I looked up names on my phone and one was "Shelly"... get it... because of their shell. I love a good pun and started laughing and said, "Hey! Let's name one, Shelly!" And Weston immediately piped up, "But that's our AUNT'S name!!" I chuckled, realizing I had been caught by my own rule. So I told them we could name them Shelley and Jeffy, haha! I hope my siblings feel honored! Jeffy has a line down the middle of his shell, so that's how we tell them apart. It's kind of been funny getting to know their personalities. Shelley tried to escape once and I laughed and said, "Yeah, that sounds like something Shelley would do. Enough family time... I'm outta here." Hahaha.

Olive had requested a new Belle doll with "not crazy hair". Her current one has an out of control mane. ;)

She also got a scooter that she is completely obsessed with and of course.. the mansion doll house!

The boys got a play shaving kit, new shoes, electric scooters, books and Monster Truck tickets for February!

The family got a foosball table. 

Travis got some clothes and spiffy new, patterned socks for church. So exciting.

I told Travis that my girls trip to Nashville this year was my Christmas present.  But he also got me a battery charger for the car and TRIED to give me Lasik eye correction surgery. I'm being a stinker about that one though. Too expensive. I told him once he has a new car and we're in our next house that might be something I would consider. 

We made our way over to my mom's house around 10:30am. The Goodmans had to be at their other grandma's house by noon so we didn't have much time with them.

We opened presents then had the traditional biscuits and gravy.

Loved this one! Whoever gave to Jefferson did good!

My mom walked around handing out everyone's money and then realized there were no cards for Marcie or Austin. We all got a good laugh out of that one!

Marcie gave to me! Lucky me! She was so creative and had Travis help her make this sign. She asked me if I "got it". Of course I got it!! The lyrics from the country song I fell in love with when we were moving to Gallup! I couldn't love it more!! It's perfect and makes me smile every time I see it. Yup, I'll go anywhere with Travis. :)

Sweetest moment of the day! A spontaneous hand hold between Tanner and baby Christopher. Tender!

We stayed at my mom's house until 4 or 5pm then mosied over to the Evans. It really is so nice how close they live to each other!

Paula always crochets some sort of animal for the grandkids and this year it was an octopus! How on earth?! They were adorable.  I can't imagine how much time it takes her to make all those.

I had suggested we nix the grown-up gift exchange. I was looking to simplify anywhere I could. I don't know if it really did simplify anything because we still got Aubrey something and then we also did a white elephant gift exchange. It was supposed to be something from your house though to eliminate shopping. We wrapped up a wind chime that one of Travis's assistants had given him last year and..... the Undies for Two that we had gotten at a Valentine's party years ago. I was ancy, wondering who would unwrap the undies. I hoped it wouldn't be too edgy. Well, wouldn't you know it... my mother-in-law chose them! Hahaha. Everyone got a good laugh. Finally passed them on!

I thought the funniest gift was this creepy monkey that holds salt and pepper shakers. Hysterical that Megan, who is fearful of jungle animals, unwrapped it. 

The families all pitched in to get Wayne a new grill. Reddin did the shopping and picking up, then all the boys put it together on the back porch. 

Christmas aftermath....

it looked like this for a couple days. 

Some of the books the kids got this year. The kids LOVE The Pout Pout Fish and Dragons Love Tacos books. I also bought "How to Babysit a Grandma" and absolutely died over how adorable it was! I couldn't possibly keep it for myself so I gave it to my mom as part of her Christmas gift. We also got them tickets to see the play Something About Earnest at Hale Theater. 

This is Collin's card to me... I love his cards and homemade gifts.

His card to Travis...

"Thank you for getting a job and taking care of us. Thank you so much for marrying mom so I could be born and have you as a dad."

Are you kidding me? I'm a melted heart puddle reading this.