Christmas Morning 2012

(Warning: Picture overload!)

Merry Christmas Y'all! What a spectacular day and so very blessed! There is nothing that I enjoy more than seeing the excitement and love that radiates through all of us on Christmas day. Thank you God for the blessing you bestow upon us!

This beautiful Christmas morning started out very early as Daddy was up and at 'em quietly anxiously awaiting for Stryker to wake up. A few heavy footsteps and a few toilet flushes later, Stryker finally arose and he was surprised by all that Santa had left him!

To say the jolly old fellow went a little overboard this year may be an understatement...Mommy's going to have to have a talk with him next year. Our little guy was overwhelmed as he saw all of the neat things that were left for him: an IPad, an ImagineNext RC train track, a remote control helicopter and a new grill for his play fort. He wasn't quite sure what to dive into first, but Daddy was quick to help his little guy play with all of his toys!

I think I'm the only one who noticed Santa had eaten his cookies and drank his milk.

After playing with the toys from Santa, Stryker went to work on all the gifts from Mommy & Daddy and from Grandma. Man oh Man, this is one lucky kid!

 

What a handsome guy!

 I love that silly grin!

Believe it or not, the rest of us had some gifts to exchange too :) Daddy went first. Mommy & Stryker surprised him with a new Kindle, a Kindle cover, some warm socks for his new job & a movie.

 Grandma got to open hers too.

Mommy had some gifts too including a couple beautiful necklaces and some clothes. Luckily, I never give up the camera to be caught on film on Christmas Morning :)

And we even got to watch Uncle Bubba open the gifts we sent him for Christmas too! God bless technology!!

After the we got done with our gifts, it was time to get ready to fix our Christmas breakfast for Nana, Poppa, Aunt Katie & Uncle Logan's arrival! I love that we get to share the morning with my family and a wonderful breakfast as well. We ate and the boys played with Stryker's new toys. Soon it was time to exchange another round of gifts. Again, Stryker was very excited and very blessed. Aunt Katie and Uncle Logan got him some super hero stuff and an awesome Batman piggy bank. Nana & Poppa surprised him with a new Wii!

 Again, we went around the room and shared the gifts we had for each other. I am so happy that we get this time together with family. Our little guy is so lucky to have such wonderful people to be surrounded by that love him so dearly.

 After my family left, we straightened up a bit, got the side dishes for dinner prepared, a nap and then it was time to get ready to head to Granny's house. Each year, all of my family, uncles, aunts, cousins, great aunts & their families, gather at Granny's house for our Christmas dinner & celebration. Before having dinner, Nana, Poppa, Aunt Lorie, Peyton, Maddison and us exchanged gifts with each other. I was very horrible with taking pictures by this time in the day. I only snapped a few of the eight of us... and only ONE of my awesome nephew. BAD Auntie!

Needless to say, everyone was very grateful and loved their gifts. Even my little Miss! It is her very first Christmas. What a beauty! She got her very first set of pearls from Uncle Dan & I. Isn't she beautiful with (or without!) them? :)

We had dinner together (we always prepare way too much food) and shared such great conversation and laughter as an extended family. The kiddos (all 8 of them) waited patiently (mostly) for their turn to open more presents. This year, we instituted a name draw instead of the usual free for all. It worked out lots better this year (for parents and children I do believe) to do it this way. The usual Christmas Chaos became a very enjoyable experience. Everyone played together until it was time to wrap up Christmas and head home.

Christmas 2012 was another fun filled, love filled, beautiful day. I am so grateful for all that I have and all the blessings that continue to be poured upon our family. I'm looking forward to next year as our beautiful children are a year older, Uncle Bubba is with us and we have the opportunity to share in love and laughter again!