Christmas

WARNING: This is an extremely long post, read on if you dare.

Well, I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. On one hand it went by WAY too fast, on the other, not so much!! We celebrate EIGHT Christmases so as you can imagine it gets a little wild and tiresome. The first Christmas was spent the weekend before Christmas. We went to Brody's grandma's for the first family get together, 51 people in all! His mom is one of five and four out of the five siblings all have kids you have kids so as you can imagine it's a fun wild night full of good food, lots of babies, kids exchanging gifts and the whole family playing white reindeer.
(Brody and I at his Grandma Poopsie's house)

The next morning we got up and celebrated Christmas with his other Grandma. Most of the same people gather together for breakfast and to shower his Memaw with her gifts. It usually shorter than the night before but still a great time!

Christmas three was spent with Brody's parents. Friday night we all drove out to Nonnie and Papaw's house for yummy enchiladas, homemade bread pudding (Pernini's recipe) and a night full of games!! Wade had so much fun playing with his cousins Brooke and Archer. They all got so wound up we finally had to make them go to bed, someone was bound to get hurt (don't feel bad for them, it was 2 hours past their bedtime.) After the kiddos were nestled in bed the adults stayed up until 12:00 playing phase 10, one of my favorite card games. After I won we all retreated to bed for a good night's rest. Wade woke us up at 8:00 and we headed to Nonnie's kitchen for yummy breakfast and decaf coffee!!! Then the fun begin. We gathered around the living room to open gifts. I was a little sad, I really thought Wade would tear into his gifts this year but sadly there was so much going on I ended up opening all his gifts.


(Wade was excited about Mater)
(So excited to open Pyper's gift)
(Brody's reaction to me opening the pink! So cute)
(So excited for Pyper's fist pink outfit)
Later that afternoon we loaded up and headed out to Stamford to be with my family for Christmas Eve night. We spent the evening at my Grandma's house and had a delicious Christmas dinner, which included turkey and dressing and lots of Swedish dishes. From there we went to my parents house to spend the night. Again, Wade was up bright and early to see what Santa had brought. He opened a few of his presents there but I did the majority of the opening.
(Santa visits Grandma's every Christmas Eve)
(New jeans! Alright!)
(Relaxing on the couch with aunt lay lay) (Playing with his new grill Grammy and Poppy got him)

Then it was off to my other Grandma's house were we enjoyed another wonderful Christmas meal and exchanged gifts. Monday we packed up again and made the trek back to Lubbock. That night we did our little family Christmas, just the four of us!! I was so thrilled, Wade tore into every gift we had wrapped for him and then opened mine and Brody's. It was like he finally caught on to what he was suppose to do. He had SO much fun.


(Loved his new truck)


(Pure joy! I love it)
Tuesday night we went to Brody's aunt's house for his Dad's side of Christmas. By this point we were all wiped out. We made it through the meal but after several melt downs from Wade, and Pyper telling Momma she needed to get her feet up we made it back home.

Yes, it's a lot of Christmases, but we are blessed to have so MANY loving family members that love and want to share the holidays with us. It's hard to say no we can't make it. However, Brody and I decided this was the last year to make all eight of them. With Wade turning three in the summer and Miss Pyper Grace entering the world we are ready to start our own traditions for our children and feel that it all begins with them being at home on Christmas morning. Yes, we will still make it by to see everyone just might not be when they had counted on. It was such a magical time and we are so blessed to give to so many!!! Hope everyone's Christmas was as blessed as ours. Happy New Year!!!