Christmas Eve and Day

Christmas was about 3 weeks ago already and it seems like such a blur. It amazes me how fast it creeps up on you and then it's over just like that.

Christmas Eve we went to my grandparents house, as we do every year, and have a wonderful family dinner and spend the evening together. It's pretty full with family! It's my grandparents, their three daughters and their spouses, and then each of my aunts have two kids and all of our spouses and children as well. It can get pretty full in my Grandparent's house! This year it wasn't too big though. My uncle and my cousin for instance had to work and my aunt's four step-sons went to their mom's house for Christmas Eve. We missed everyone who was unable to come and hopefully next year we can all be together.

Ryan had to work on Christmas Eve, but thankfully got off early so he was able to come home and pick the girls and I up. I love watching him feed Gracie. It's nice that I get my hands free, but also to watch a Daddy hold his baby girl. I find myself staring at him and Gracie and wondering what the two of them are thinking as they stare at each other. It's like they have this inner communication that only the two of them can pick up. It's really sweet.
Payton absolutely loves being with her cousins. She tends to play a little rougher, but I think that's because they are boys. She always gets them to do whatever she wants though, like Ring around the Rosey.

Our family
Ryan and I were the only ones ready to smile.

My cousin Megan and I with Gracie

My cousin is going to school in Arizona, so this was the first I was able to see her since July.

Trent and Kaden

After dinner we tend to relax for five minutes and then the kids are ready to open up presents. I remember being that way when I was little. I've been going to my Grandparent's house for Christmas Eve since I was a baby, so it's so fun to see my kids there now. Anxiously waiting to open up gifts and hoping that people eat their dinner fast.

Gracie fell asleep during dinner so she wasn't around for the present opening madness.

She woke up just as we were packing things up to leave.

After we left my Grandparents, we headed home to put the girls to bed before Santa arrived that night.

The next morning on Christmas day, we all came down stairs around 7 o'clock and Payton was so excited to see gifts under the tree and her stocking full of goodies.

Gracie wasn't too sure what to think. She loved everything that was handed to her, whether it be paper or a toy. Anything makes that girl happy!

I walked Payton over to Santa's cookie try and cup and showed her the crumbs that he left and that the milk had been drank. I'm not sure she quite understood that he came while she was asleep, but it's a fun tradition to start now.

After stockings, we dove into the gifts. This year it was all about the girls, as it should be. Ryan and I decided to not get each other anything and have fun spoiling the girls. Well of course we couldn't settle for getting each other nothing, so we got two gifts each. ;)

As soon as Payton had come downstairs, she saw the blanket hiding something. We made her wait until stockings were open to unveil what was underneath. Here she is taking a peak and unveiling it.

Payton's big girl bike!

Gracie opening up one of numerous toys

Daddy and Gracie and another toy

Me and Gracie

She only cared about the paper

Gracie's favorite gift and least expensive!

Me and my girls! I love them so much! This had to have been the best Christmas ever.

Payton riding her bike around the living room

The calm after the storm

After our house we headed over to Ryan's mom's house, as we do every year on Christmas day. It really works out nicely with my family for the Eve and Ryan's for Christmas day. It's fun to have two full days of family.

Our handsome nephew Cedrick

I have to call his name and not warn him that I'm taking a picture or he'll make a silly face!

Grammie and Gracie

Cassius's arm, Mia, Taunia, Payton, Brittany, Cedrick, Joanne and Gracie

The madness!!! All the kids got spoiled! it's so much fun to watch.

Gracie and aunti Britt

Cedrick and Cassius

Payton and I

Our beautiful neice Mia

Everyone onto round two for dinner.

Nathan, Cash, Mia, Taunia, Ryan and the back of Joanne

Christmas was fabulous! We all had a wonderful time spending it with family and remembering what the holiday is all about. It was also wonderful to have a white Christmas, I can't remember the last one we had.