Grace Family: The 12 Days Of Christmas

Christmas was great this year! We did things a little differently by going to Graham first, coming home for Christmas day, and then welcoming my aunt from NY after and through the New Year. It was a busy 12 days but so much fun for all of us!

I love getting down on their level to take pictures of them playing! Especially when it's a manger scene they are playing with. :-)

Kelley got all the boys Aggie shirts this year!

Joshua opened this John Deere gator and didn't care about another gift. He tells everyone he got a "Gator" for Christmas and doesn't name another thing most times. He even sleeps with it most nights.

Hunting gear... super popular!

I surprised Jeff this year with the only thing he's wanted for awhile now... saved up my own (Thirty-One) income without him knowing (which is nearly IMPOSSIBLE if you know my accountant husband) and he was thrilled. Of course, his first words were, "How'd you pay for this?!" and I felt very satisfied to have pulled it off!

The other BIG thrill of our gift night in Graham was this sweet couple... and a great surprise!

And of course, she said YES! Set to wed May 25th!!

And there really were boots in that Cavender's box, though I think Ryan was the only one who tried them on while all the excitement was happening.

We celebrated Christmas with Muna and Papa the next day and Katie and Chris came from California too.

Aunt Brenda and Ryan were having a "moment" and I tried to snap the preciousness!

December 23rd Jeff's parents celebrated 40 years of marriage. We pulled off a surprise party just two days before Christmas and were VERY thankful to the friends and family that were able to attend and we enjoyed celebrating their gift of marriage. It's a gift for sure... to each of their children and grandchildren and we are very thankful!

I love that I captured just how happy Tommy was!

Our gift was a split frame of their wedding picture and a current picture taken at Thanksgiving.

The card and gift table... thank you to everyone that couldn't attend but still took the time to send a card or gift through me. It was SO thoughtful and they were both so touched!

Jeff gave a speech... and yes, we all cried!

The family...

We drove home Christmas Eve and went straight to my parents' house to do dinner and presents with them. And boy were they ready...

A game of chess until Uncle Mike got there

This boy and farms... that's all I need to say!

I took 30+ pics of this shot... and this was the best one! Seriously!

Present opening...

A gator for Grandma's house too... can't go wrong!

His new saying: "Oh my goodness!!!"

My aunt and uncle send the annual Hess truck each year! We've got 6 and they are our most played with toys throughout every year. LOVE this tradition for my boys!!

Each boy got a Longhorn item too...

Ryan had to put his on... over his jeans!

My favorite kid pajamas ever...

Uncle Mike's gift- scooters are TONS of fun!

What 6 year old wouldn't LOVE a ToysRUs gift card? He has a list of things he plans to get!

In the midst of all the present opening, Ryan is shopping the Thomas catalog of trains.

New bikes for all three boys!

My favorite picture! LOVE!

Christmas morning we are always home as a family. We read the three stories about Jesus' birth out of the Jesus Storybook Bible and discussed the GIFT that he is to all of us.

Each of our kids gets three things. This year we took turns and each person opened one thing at a time, which I really enjoyed because I was able to really witness each expression of joy and they got to watch their siblings do the same.

The littles got the same things so we let them go together.

Joshua and Ryan shared their third gift...

A tv in the playroom means no more Barney in the living room! Yay for mommy and daddy too!!!

Logan got his most desired gift from us...

And what a sweet reaction!

He was also SO ready to GIVE this year. His school has a Christmas shop that kids can spend their money in buying things for their family. We got interesting gifts, but it was his spirit of giving that was the best gift of all! See in his right hand? He even made cards for each of us! :-)

Mommy got a stuffed Elf (we don't do Elf on the Shelf- maybe he's asking to?). Daddy got a pencil. Ryan got a yo-yo that is already broken and Joshua got a snowman cup with a straw (which he LOVES). Logan can't wait to do it again next year!

Christmas continued through the New Year weekend because my Aunt Maureen came from NY to spend some time with all of us. It was such a treat to have her stay at our house this visit because she saw a lot more of my boys than she would normally... and a lot of the simple, every day things- like staying in our PJs one day until bedtime came around and we decided they could just sleep in those same ones again. My boys love her and keep asking when she's coming back.

Joshua LOVES Uncle Mike

The boys with their new outside toys... a new bike and roller skates!

This ONE thing makes this boy SO happy!

Aunt Maureen played Santa and everyone was SO well treated!

Hooded towels+kids=can't go wrong!

Um... yeah... he LOVES this picture!

My brother is one of the hardest people to shop for, but my aunt hit the JACKPOT with this gift. The print is from a 70s Met's game in which my Grandpa brought a group of Navy recruits. His name was on the scoreboard announcing his group being in attendance. The stadium, the team, the advertisements that date it and the fact that my Grandpa's name is on it... pretty amazing item for Mike to own and he was OVERCOME with joy and emotion!