Christmas Eve and Morning 2014

This was a very significant Christmas.  First and most important, it was our first Christmas with grandchildren!  Yeah and one on the way in 2015.  Second, for the first time since our first couple of years of marriage, Grandma Hall didn't have Christmas Eve at her house.  Instead we decided as a family to move it to the Monday prior to Christmas so that the grandchildren can stay rather than trying to rush off to meet obligations at their other extended families parties.  As a result of both of those, the third thing we decided was that as a family with grandchildren we were going to hold our special holiday time together on Christmas Night with dinner, games, and whatever.  Christmas Eve they can spend with other family or just their own family. 

 

This year for Christmas Eve, the four of us (Ben, Jena, Gary and I) headed out for Chinese food (this year-Panda Express) and then watched the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Program and another Christmas show.  Then we hung our stockings in our shortened but still crazy Train with Gary in the lead.  Ben headed back to the CRU for the night and we headed to bed to dreams "of sugar plums" or whatever dancing in our heads.

Christmas morning:



Youngest to older to retrieve the stockings

New ornaments from Jessica and Elessia

Jena has taken over Jessica's job of shopping with Gary for my gifts on the day before Christmas.  She also helped him wrapped most of the gifts as well.  I sometimes use random Christmas people to put in the "From" slot so Jena does that as well.  I loved this one from "Trees".  Makes sense with the tag.

I still hang up all of the stockings even though "Santa" no longer fills Jessica's, Scott's or Tosha's.  I love seeing them hanging over the fireplace and love the colors and design of the stockings.  Jena is campaigning for new stockings as she would like one with her name on it.  I am resisting because these are history for me.  I feel justified because Jessica told me that she likes seeing the stockings hanging over the fireplace at Christmas time, too.

As the youngest, Jena passes out the presents to each of us.  It was a great relaxing morning and I was content.  I was glad to know that each of my kids were surrounded by people they love and love them and having a good day.  I am okay that my kids are growing up and having sweet moments with their families.  That is what I wanted for them.  It only will keep getting better for them as they love their mates and strengthen their families which they are building.

 

Of course, it helps that I knew that they all (except for Jessica and Elessia who were in Arizona for the holiday with Elessia's family) coming for dinner and games that night.

 

We headed over to Scott's and Chantel's to enjoy a bit of Christmas morning time with them and Scarlett.  That will be part of our tradition for the families who live close by that we will try to make a visit during the morning.  Scarlett was happy as usual and loved trying to rip open the presents.

 

Opening a present

It snowed on Christmas morning so Scott got a bowl
for Scarlett to check out.  I don't think she was impressed.

New clothes for Christmas
 

We headed back home and began making our preparations for Christmas dinner.