A day with Pepere and Jerry

We spent most of today at Pepere and Jerry's house. They left their tree up but wevhad to be careful since it was a live tree. If you touched it at all, needles would rain down to the floor. It was decorated with very cute ornaments. We all noticed the lovely stockings on the wall, and the kids started looking for their names on the gifts under the tree.

We enjoyed a yummy lunch of sandwiches and soup.

The sparkling appl cider didn't last long.

Jerry handed out the stockings first.

She made all the stockings herself.

Lots of individually wrapped gifts inside each one.

We all received a knitted stocking ornament.

So cute.

Presents were handed out next.

All the kids received a wonderful hat!

Panda

So soft and furry!

Gray rabbit

Owl

Wolf

Baby penguin

Racoon (we think)

Koala bear

Polar bear

Kevin received socks and I received a light weight dressy scarf.

 RoseMarie received this amazingly soft and wonderful elephant,

instead of a hat.

It is truly delightful and I'm sure it will be a great friend.

RoseMarie spent most of the morning and early afternoon sleeping

in her car seat. I eventually got her out, and even shared her.

 She received a brown bear hat (not pictured here).

All the kids received two pencils with different erasers on the ends.

What a wonderful group of wild animals!

Chris showed off his new drone.

Some of us stayed inside to watch from the window.

Baby snuggles.

She's almost 2 months old.

 Sweet little baby enjoy time with grandparents.

So inside the stockings were a variety of gifts: thermal hot hands hand warmer pads, pencils, candy canes, dinosaur toys for Harmonie, Camdilyn and Naomi; music boxes for Camdilyn and Naomi; a tool thing and straw "glasses" for Ben; Poo pourri for Kevin and Chris; card games for the older kids; pony tail holders for the girls; jingle bell rings for the older girls. It really was a fun treat for all of us.

We ended up sitting down to watch Storks and then The Last Jedi, so instead of going out for dinner, we just ate leftovers from lunch. It was a very nice visit with Pepere and Jerry. Thank you for your generosity and love!

The rest of Christmas Day activities

Marissa's passion truly is drawing,

so she took advantage of time off from school

to do some drawing! 

Emily's passion is baking

(among other things)

so she was more than happy to help me

in the kitchen, with the cornish hens.

Dad was more than happy to play with the other kids.

Unfortunately, I just assumed the guns would need AA batteries,

but they actually need AAA, 

so Kevin had to go out and buy the right kind of batteries,

so they could enjoy the lazer tag game.

And boy did they enjoy it!

All day long!

Group shots

to satisfy me

and my desire to "capture" the moment.

The littlest girls weren't into shooting others,

so they read and colored together.

Time for lunner!

We ate our traditional meal of cornish hens,

rolls, stuffing, fruit/marshmallow salad, and sweet potatoes.

I keep forgetting to open a couple cans of cranberry sauce.

We also remembered to get egg nog!

My wonderfully fantastic plate!

Dessert was cherry parfaits instead of pie.

Different but delicious!

Ready to enjoy!

Celebrate Christmas Morning!

As is the tradition, Kevin and I were up into the wee hours of Christmas morning wrapping presents. Not sure why I don't wrap as I go rather than wait but we will survive. I guess it's just a little difficult to take time away from all our daily stuff to hide away in my room to wrap. Anyway... this is whatit looked like when we finished.

Can you see the ones that got hidden behind the tree, in the window?

Started off with stockings.

toothpaste

toothbrushes

humming bird made by Kemiah

 They also got two chocolate covered cherries, four Lindor chocolate balls (half milk and half white) from Dad and I. They also received random candy and gifts from their siblings. Not very exciting this year so I need to brainstorm and figure out what to do next year.

Time for presents. 

Everyone received a bag of candy - some type of chocolate,

so they can mix and match between themselves.

Everyone received new underwear (and socks)

Group shot - view of the room

More LeapPad books

Colored paper - she asked for it

Colored paper - she also asked for it

A coloring book like the big girls

Model Magic - lots of colors

A new watch

Pocket knife - she asked for it

New clothes

Pocket knife - he asked for it to replace his other one

(he already made a new lanyard for it)

Her own race car tracks

A coloring book like the big girls,

but still on her level

A coloring book like the big girls

(Yes, these three asked for the very same things)

Colored paper - lots of creations in our future

She wanted scrapbooking stuff...

I decided we'd do it digitally,

since that's where all my pictures are

and it will be fun to create her own book,

but not have to worry about getting all the stuff out every time.

(Yes, I wrapped one piece of paper.)

That's a lot of coloring supplies!

A new watch

A larger pot and grow light for her orange tree.

A new watch!

Kemiah gave her doll, Gabby, to Naomi.

Kemiah even made the doll a dress, too.

Xiomara gave her doll, Ashley, to Camdilyn.

Family gifts

books from general authorities

(RoseMarie received the red gingerbread cookie blanket 

from one of Dad's patients.)

Another family gift...

Lazer Tag!

Kevin and I received new amazing hugs towels - we haven't had new ones in a very long time. (I also thought about getting them for the kids because they are still using their hooded towels from when they were born, and for some kids that's a long time. Maybe for their birthdays.)

So to sum it up: everyone received underwear, socks, bag of candy, one small gift and one big gift. The family received 8 books from Church leaders and I received a new Christmas book. Everyone is excited about the Lazer Tag guns so hopefully it will be incentive to get their school work done quickly.

Moving on to breakfast!