Christmas Day

Because we had done most of our celebrating with my side of the family the day before it really made Christmas and enjoyable day this year. We didn't have to split the day between 3 families and it was really nice. (Maybe we should do that every year from now on!) Matt had to work until 3 on Christmas day, so the kids and I slept in a little bit and then got ready and went next door to my parents for our traditional Yancey brunch on Christmas morning. We had pancakes, sausage, fruit and juice. It was yummy and a great way to start the morning. The kids played for a while and then we went home and loaded the car to head out to Unlce Kendall and Aunt Stephanies for the Keller get together. We got there early enough that we were able to skype and visit with Elder Keegan Keller that is serving a mission in Spain right now. He has been out for a little more than 10 months and will be home before we know it. It was really great to see him and talk to him and hear how he was doing. I know it was a highlite for a lot of the family. For the Keller lunch they did a pasta bar. There was lasagna, spaghetti, fettuchini with shrimp, and shrimp alfredo with salad and garlic bread. It was so fun to have all the different types of pasta, and pretty much all you could eat. We never go hungry at a Keller get together. Grandma Keller gave away some of her jewelry to her granddaughters, and great-granddaughters and Paige and I fell into this catelgory. It was fun to look through and pick something out special that belonged to her. I wore some of the jewelry this last Sunday and got several compliments. So that is fun! After dinner we did the pass around gift exchange. This year they changed the rules so that once a gift has been open it can only be passed 3 times before it is out. That made the game go quicker, but dissapointed some of the people that were at the end of the game because it made it so a lot of the items were out of play. Also we all drew numbers for the order in which we picked a gift so it was all random. I ended up with a $25 gift card to Chili's and a box of whoppers and Matt got a grooming kit. It was one of the better years for us! We had a fun time with everyone.

After that we went to Grandpa & Grandma C's house to open more gifts. Paxten got a new outfit, 6 books all about trucks and tractors, Jake and the Neverland Pirate toys, toy dinosaurs, a pack of gum (that was his favorite), and at our prior Christmas Party he got a headlamp and a Mcdonalds gift card.
Paige got a new outfit, a cheetah print jacket, the movie Brave, Tinkerbell toy, Fur Real Friends bunny, gum, and a lalaloopsy and a McDonalds gift card.
Parker got: A new outfit, remote control truck, Ben 10 4 in 1 gun, gum, Avengers book all about the characters, and a headlamp and a Mcdonalds gift card.
The whole family got the game Cootie and Matt got an affliction shirt and I got a bag and Adobe Photoshop, which I am really excited to use! We had a great day with family and spending time with the people we care most about.

Christmas Morning

After finally getting up at the kids perisitence, we got to opening gifts. Each of the kids got Something to Wear, Something to Read, and Something to Play With. We decided to keep it simpler and not get too extreme, after all we just took the kids to Disneyland and they knew that was part of their Christmas this year. Parker got Perry the Playypus slippers, new jeans, socks, and underwear. The Magic Tree House bookset, and some Cars2 cars. Paige got a Sunday coat, a maxi dress, and a black shirt. She also got the Junie B. Jones books set, her own kitchen cooking utensils and a Hello Kitty CD player for her room. Paxten got a Mater Christmas book, a sweatshirt, and another outift, and a Batman car to ride on. Santa did a familt gift this year and we got a Wii game system with 5 games. We got the wii sports game, Wheel of Fortune, Cars2, Toy Story 3, and a Tangled game. Along with the games we got 2 extra controllers, so that more than one person can play at a time. We all got some great stocking stuffers including some of out favorite snacks and treats. Matt got me the Hunger Games movie and I got him some new workout shorts, socks, and cologne. We were all pretty happy with our new stuff and got to work setting up the game system. After about an hour and it not working, Matt decided that the game system was defective. Luckily it wasn't actually Christmas Day and he was able to take it to exchange it at the special "Exchange Store" that Santa has. So a few hours later, we had the new Wii working and were having fun. Later on we got together and my parents house for our annual Christmas Eve dinner and gift exchange.

Christmas Day

After Church got out we went to Matt's Dad's house. The kids each got new jammies. Kerry had also made each of the kids a pillow case and gave them a new pillow. Parker got Spiderman and Paige got a a Dora pillow. Paxten's pillow case has owls and monkeys on it. They are supe cute and the kids have loved having them to sleep on. Paige also got a My Little Pony and some Magnetic dress up dolls. Parker got a nerf gun and a Lightning McQueen book. Paxten got a tonka toy truck and a jacket. Then as a family gift the kids, along with Tara a Quentins kids opened a package that said, "Let's go to DisneyLand." In it was some money for each of our families to start saving for a family trip next fall. Also the kids got a new Disney shirt. I also got a new cookbook and Matt and I got a gift card to Texas Roadhouse. Matt's Parents always spoil us all as well. We are super excited to be saving for our trip next year and are super excited that we are planning on going as a family. It will be awesome!!

After that we went to Uncle Kendall's house, where were had the annual White Elephant exchange. But I think it has turned into just a gift pass around rather than a white elephant. We tried to split it into boys and girls, but it still ended up taking over an hour before the game was over. The hot items this year were a 12 pk Mt. Dew with a Dick's Sporting Goods gift card, a 24 pk Dr. Pepper with beef jerky, a 20 pk Mt.Dew 2 giant candy bars, a tin of popcorn with a gift card on it as well. Those items kept getting passed back and forth over and over, among the men. There wasn't very much stealing from the women, other than a $20 bill and some jewelry. It was fun and is tradtion! I ended up with a cool jar full of a treat and a magnet board that says "Every Picture Tells A Story", Matt ended up with a tin of Almond Roca and a buck knife. We were both happy that neither of us ended up with monkey butt poweder, or a Chia pet!!

The kids do a name exchange with the other little kids. Parker got a new Pogo stick and Paige got 2 little My Little Ponies. Paxten got a new outfit. They were all excited about getting another fun gift. We ate a great dinner, visited and then came home. The kids were all anxious to try out all their new stuff. We had a wonderful Christmas and we feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many great family and friends. We truly are lucky to live here!! We hope the new year brings joy and happiness, health and strength, and more lawn business!!!! Hahaha!!!

Christmas Day

Matt got stuck with the short end of the stick this year when it came to holidays. He ended up having to work Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day. So we were bummed about that, but managed to make things work. Luckily he only had to work until 3 so the entire day wasn't gone. He was lucky enough to have a good friend offer to come in for him in the morning for an hour on Christmas while we did our gift opening. That still meant pretty early to get up. We had to wake the kids at 7 so that Matt could be to work by 8. (the magic isn't quite the same when you, the parent, have to wake up the kids to tell them Santa came) They were excited when they came into the living room and saw that Santa did come and that he did eat his cookies and milk. Parker was axious and dug right into his stocking. Paige was still waking up and not quite sure what was going on. Santa brought each of them a pillow pet (I know Paige got 2 ladybugs... what a coincidence!) Parker got a turtle one. They both got a disney book with stickers, a watercolor paint book, toothbrush, and treats. Paige also got a 6 pack of Barbie Princesses, some hair stuff, and socks. Parker got a Star Wars helmet, star wars figure and socks as well. Matt got me 2 new kitchen rugs that are gel pads and feel so good on my feet !! He also got me the Twilight movie Eclipse. I got Matt new hair clippers, socks, cologne, extension cord and the PS3 move system. Parker also got a lot of new clothes, a nerf sword, 15 in 1 game set, dart board & a movie. Paige got 3 or 4 new outfits, a new movie, hat and gloves, dora bounce ball and a dora couch. We all got new sweaters from Old Navy as well. Everyone was spoiled and got more than they needed. It was a great morning.

Matt went off to work, (with hesitation, he wanted to play with his new game) and the kids and I went to my mom's for breakfast/brunch. We had pancakes, sausage, bacon, hash browns, eggs, juice and milk. It was yummy. In the afternoon we went to Matt's Uncle Kendall's house and hung out for a while and had lunch. After Matt got off work he came out and then we went to his Dad's house and the kids once again opened some gifts. Big Brother got some clothes, star wars figures, zhuzhu pet,a bow and arrow, a big sticker book and a huge look and find book. Little Sister got new clothes, a puppy toy with clothes, a night light, another barbie and a color poster. I got money for my kindle and a tag blanket for the new baby. Matt got an affliction shirt. We had fun with his family and by the evening we were all ready to come home and go to bed...at least I was, the kids wanted to play with all their new stuff. We all had a very Merry Christmas and hope you did as well!!