We have had a great time with family this year. I can't think of a more fantastic way to celebrate all our blessings this year than to have done it with all my special people. Alex was working on Christmas Day this year so we planned to do our Christmas celebration on the 26th. After a midday Ultimate Frisbee game with Alex, me, Lori, Dave, and Noah we went to the Christmas Eve service at our church and heard a great message and sang some old favorites with a new spin. Marc and Amber flew in from Texas on Christmas Day and so I thought I'd be alone most of the day with Matthew while we waited for our Christmas Day a day late with Daddy... but then we got news that Matthew's Moran Grands were changing their schedule and were going to come for Christmas. We were really excited that both sets of Grandparents would be able to see Matthew on his first Christmas. I spent the Day with MamaAdina and Grandpa Neno, talking about family heritage and playing with Matthew. He had a great day and the next day we headed over to Granna's house.
We met Daddy and everyone else with breakfast that Grandpa Neno brought from Mimi's, and then spent the morning playing board games, hanging out, and opening presents. We laid pretty low on presents this year, just feeling already so blessed and having received the gift of family who traveled to see us this year. The babies got the bulk of the presents which was great. And just in time too-- Matthew is getting so smart and strong that he was in need of some new toys! He loved opening his presents. He got a bunch of nice things from some of MamaAdina's clients including a rocking horse, a high chair, and some winter clothes. The Moran Grands brought a TRAIN for both Noah and Matthew. This is one cool gift! The Tyuses gave us some really neat books, including "Tiny Bear", a bear who tells Bible stories. Granna added some cool car toys and some plush toys with TAGS all over them. Matthew can't get enough of tags! After presents we enjoyed Granna and Lori's Christmas dinner, Honeybaked Ham and Turkey, sweet and mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread casserole, and a 7-layer cold salad. Dave and Lori worked on desserts, a Pecan Pie and a Carrot cake! It was a great way to enjoy all Matthew's grandparents and some of his aunts and uncles, and his best bud, Noah.
The next day we went back over to Granna's house to open presents from Marc and Amber that arrived too late for Christmas due to a PO Box mishap. These two were WAY generous with their gifts this year. They got daddy some new racquetball gear, Matthew got some bibs and a portable feeding jar with an attached spoon and a Babies R Us Gift card, I got a beautiful hand-made frame with some scriptures written on it for all life's needs, and Maggie got home-made dog biscuits lovingly made by Marc and doggie-cousin, Billy. We played Yahtzee later that night, teaching Lori and Dave for the first time, and then taught Marc and Amber Backgammon.
Needless to say Matthew has slept like a log all week. I love my family and even though so many of them live far away now I feel closer to them than ever. We have so many blessings that bind us together.
Here are some pictures of our Christmas
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