Christmas Afternoon

After Dalton's meltdowns were over we were finally able to get on the road to head down to Grammy's house for a large extended family gathering. We hung out for a bit, enjoyed some appetizers and catching up for a bit. Then we moved into the living room for our second annual white elephant gift exchange. Except that it doesn't have to be a junky gift, the price limit was $5.

Photo by Jessica

There wasn't a lot of trading or stealing going on, but I did get the chocolates I'd unwrapped stolen away from me. Instead I got a screaming monkey slingshot toy that the boys love. Jason and I contributed a scented jar candle and a game of Yahtzee. Jason wanted to keep that one but I wouldn't let him. Instead he got some glass ornaments. Here's my mom and Lauren, courtesy of Jessica's new camera:


After the big group gift exchange we also did a smaller exchange with my mom and sisters and the boys got to open presents from others as well. They got chocolate Santas and Grammy (and Grandpa John) gave them a really cool remote control robot. They love it!

The boys got some cool stuff from Auntie Jess and then my mom and sisters were able to open their gifts E had picked from school. For some unknown reason, Easton picked out a little doll figure with hair for Jessica. He gave my mom a ring and told her it was because she doesn't have any. He gave Lauren a fake rose filled with a pair of fake "diamond" earrings which he promptly took away from her saying it was for me. "Was the flower I opened earlier in the day for Lauren instead?" "No, they're both for Mommy." Hmmm. I felt really bad but we didn't insist. Lauren said she was fine with it but I'm planning to take him back out shopping for something he'll let Lauren keep. The boys gave her a stuffed pig with two little piglets (E & D) sewn to it so she won't forget them when she moves away. Easton says that is her gift. He gets kinda upset when I've tried talking to him about it since then but he's okay with going to the store for something new. Sorry, Lo!

Anyway, after gifts and before dinner my sisters and I did our favorite self-portraits with Jessica's new camera:

(That's my new scarf from Jess!)

Robin offered to take one of Moosie and her girls:

I've said it before, but it sucks being the biggest one in the family now. :(

We had some dinner and then the kids all ran off to play. My cousin Paul brought his family and so 5 year old Natalie and Easton kept each other--and Dalton--rather entertained which was nice:






Robbie played with them for a bit:


My mom, of course, brought all kinds of fun stuff for them to do while we hung out after dinner. Me and D:


Jason and Robbie talked music while Jessica and Lauren played more fun camera games. You should see all the pictures she took that night. Silly ones. Fun ones. She likes her new camera...she's never owned a camera before.


Eventually the families with kids left. First Paul and his family and then us and our boys. Jess took a few of Lauren with my boys:


Then we were on our way.

We were probably over halfway home when I realized I left my purse behind (that is very unlike me) and so we turned around to go get it. When we got to my grandma's I realized that after the families with little ones leave is when the party really gets started. Everyone was still there having a nice ol' time. They were taking lots of pictures. I stole this one of Robbie and Lauren. He's exactly 9 months older than she is and they've been little buds all growing up:


Even with all the fun, I have other responsibilities now and had to get them home:


I put E straight into bed but Dalton always wakes up. He got jammies and lotion and some milk and rocking before we could truly call it a day.

What a wonderful Christmas!!!