I loved waking up early in the morning, seeing our beautiful tree, with presents wrapped up all nice & neat underneath. Sheppy even found his way back to the stable last night, to see baby Jesus be born into a manger. (On a much more shallow note – I hate that Emmie’s stocking doesn’t match the rest of ours, so I wanted to get her a new one, and I completely forgot about it until late last night.)
Emerson woke up around 6:45, but we kept her distracted for a little bit, woke up the boys eventually, and finally let her run into the room, and it was the best seeing how excited she was, just getting to run in!
She was thrilled to unwrap the Chewbacca Potato Head that she picked out on Black Friday. She was just so into that thing, and she remembered him, of course!
The boys got teeny tiny drones for one of their gifts from us.
And Emerson got a second baby doll from Mommy & Daddy!
I got Jeff a pair of Han Solo & Chewie Lego Brick Headz, and Emmie got her Chewie Tater Head, so they were both thrilled for their new Star Wars gear!
After opening gifts at our house, and hanging out around the house for a while, we got showered and dressed and headed over to my parents house, for a giant Christmas for 16 people!
Mid-way through opening gifts, the babies needed a bottle-break, so the rest of us took a snack break too. These two things right here are some of my very favorite foods – sausage & cheese balls, and Christmas pie. (Christmas pie is kind of like quiche, with eggs, cheese, ham & peppers.) Oh man, I could eat half a pie and like 20 sausage balls, and just make a meal out of those two things. So good!
Grandmommie’s gift to Emerson was a pretty little silver bracelet, with her name engraved and a tiny little birthstone gem on the side. It’s very special, and I hope she’ll cherish it for a long time; I know I will!
Emmie also found Mary, Joseph and the brown donkey again one more time at Grammy’s house, and they had also made it to the stable, and Baby Jesus was there now too!
So quick back story – my dad travels around the state a lot for work. He always stops at this place called Rural King (which is kind of like a Tractor Supply Store, I think?), and he always makes jokes about bringing Emerson a baby chicken or baby duck that they sell there, especially around Easter time. In the past, he’s brought her home tiny little stuffed ones, and she loved them. So for Christmas this year, all four little grand-girls got a giant baby chicken, and they’re adorable and Emmie loved it!
Uncle Keith & Aunt Suzanne got Emerson this adorable ride-along inch worm, and it was so fun! She’s actually not even tall enough or heavy enough to work it quite right, but at least she can grow into it and it’ll last a long time!
We had delicious roast, carrots, potatoes, green bean casserole, squash & rolls for lunch. Although Ryan and Emmie mostly just ate rolls 😉
After a BIG morning opening presents twice, and eating two rolls for lunch, and playing with all the brothers and cousins, we still had to force Emerson to take a nap. I ended up laying down with her and falling asleep for a nap with her. We slept for about an hour and a half, and when she woke up, she rolled over and softly put her hand on my cheek, and said, “You sleepy Mommy?” And I died from precious cuteness.
After nap time, I had some decaf coffee & homemade lemon pie for my afternoon dessert, and sat around the table chatting with the family, and it was so nice.
Emmie couldn’t wait any longer to get her ice cream cart out, so Daddy got it put together for her, and she took turns serving up ice cream to the whole family.
We got such a perfect picture of the four of them at Thanksgiving, but we didn’t quite succeed in getting it quite as good today. But they’re all just so cute, it doesn’t really matter!
One little thing I specifically wanted to write down that I keep forgetting this month, so I just wanna throw it in now… She is obsessed with the Jingle Bells song, and sings it all the time. But she sings, “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh not fun it is to ride…” And Jeff and I just think it’s hilariously cute.
Emerson lined up all the chicks like this all on her own, and just settled right in for a while.
Had to feed some corn to the deer of course!
We had sausage dogs & tater tots for dinner (which was actually a really great Christmas dinner), and then we got all the baby girls in the tub for their cousin bath time! And they had such a great time! One of Emerson’s gifts from Meg & Bo were these light-up bath toys, and all the littles loved them. Emmie even helped bathe & wash some of the babies!
She wanted the inch worm in the house during dinner, and needed to give it one last ride before heading home. (We left it at Grammy’s house, because they have more room to store it in their giant garage, and more room for her to ride it down their giant driveway.)
One of her presents from her brothers was this unicorn-llama-pillow & matching blanket, and she was excited to sleep with it in her bed tonight.
She did good at bedtime, and after one video, one book, three lullabies (with one repeat), she was ready to lay down and go to sleep. She let me take one picture with the flash, which she thought was funny, and then I sang “Jesus Loves Me” while I scratched her back, and then she was quiet as a mouse!
The dining room & living room are both cluttered with all the spoils from the last two days, and I’m thoroughly exhausted, and having some serious sinus issues. But I wouldn’t trade any of that for the great family times we’ve had this Christmas! I’m once again so very aware of how blessed we are and how much I love my family. So thankful for another great holiday season, and grateful I still have the rest of the week off to rest & relax!
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