Christmas 2012

We decided to be brave this year and spend Christmas Eve and day away from home.  My kids have never spent Christmas Eve with my grandparents (which is one of my favorite Christmas memories) so we though this would be a good year to do it!

On Christmas Eve morning, before leaving, we surprised them with a few early presents (the ones we didn't want to have to haul with us!)  Amy and Dallin got some wiggle cars and Wyatt and Lydia got a basketball hoop.  They were all pretty excited and we probably could have just ended the gifts with that ;)

Dallin thought it was much more fun to ride with Amy instead of on his own car.

Lydia's glad we have a new hoop, but Wyatt was THRILLED!  Imagine that.

That afternoon we headed to my parents home.  On the way we stopped to visit and wish Greg's Grandma Roberts a Merry Christmas.  It was fun to visit with her and her friends.  One of them told Wyatt he had a horrible name and that he should tell his parents to return it.  Poor kid was so confused.  Greg and I just laughed!

That evening my parents hosted my dad's families Christmas Eve party.  When I was growing up, we always spent Christmas Eve at my Grandma and Grandpa W's house.  We ate good food, had a program with parts, sang songs, and always had a visit from Santa.  Years ago my Great Grandma Carrie made a santa suit and it was always fun to try and figure out who was missing from the group when Santa made his appearance.  For years it was my grandpa and every year Santa had a different voice.  Recently my grandma had to make a new pair of santa pants to replace the old worn out ones and I guess she made them too small.  It's definitely limited who our Santa can be now.  This year it was Tavin (my cousin who is 15).  I'm not sure all my kids were conviced he was the real thing, but it was still fun to keep up with tradition.

Dallin did better with Santa than I expected.  (and Santa was obviously having issues with is hair and beard ;)

Again, a first for Amy...sitting on santa's lap with a smile!

For her part, my grandma told the story about a boy named Davy.

My grandpa recited a poem he wrote years ago about the W. Family Christmas (one of my favorite memories!!!)  He says it's the last time he's going to recite it.  Hopefully not!

After everyone left we got the kids to bed and woke up to this the next morning...

Luckily Santa still found them away from home!

My dad was still feeding cows when the kids woke up.  Growing up, we used to wake up BEFORE he left to feed cows which meant we usually did Christmas early...like 5:00 early!  I opted to let my kids sleep and wait for him!  But they did get to open up their present from Santa while waiting and their stockings.

Dallin loved his puppy and blanket from Santa. 

Amy finally got her lalaloopsy!

Wyatt couldn't belive how big this box of legos was.

And Lydia was so excited to get the pink guitar she had requested...now she has to learn how to play it! 

When my dad came home, the kids didn't waste any time tearing into the rest of their gifts!!!

After opening all their presents, we continued with tradition and went to my grandparents house to open more gifts and our traditional "junk" bags from my grandma, eat, visit, play, and nap!

Grandpa Tommy and Dallin were worn out!

It was such a fun Christmas!  Greg left to go home late that afternoon and the kids and I stayed a couple extra days. 

They loved playing in the snow!  It was so nice to have a white Christmas!

Dallin

Aimers

My cute little niece, Clara

Since we've been home, the kids have had been enjoying their new things.

Dallin calls his new hat "kitty!"  It actually surprises me how much he likes to wear it.

They all love Dallin's new train set.  It's provided plenty of entertainment!

It was a fun week full of tradition and family.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm exhausted and happy to be home, and I'm not sure we will haul our Christmas with us again anytime soon, but I'm glad we switched things up this year and spent Christmas where we did.  Thanks dad and mom for letting us come!