A Little Bit of Christmas Day

How time changes when there are only two of you at home, and your children have their own families now. One advantage is you are able to sleep in later.

We had decided this Christmas morning to help Santa deliver some gifts for Marshall and Shannon. Because of moving during the holidays, the tree was down and Christmas decorations were already packed away. To see the smiles on their faces made our Christmas. It truly is much better to give than to receive.

Can you tell Marshall was happy? Look at
that smile.

Marshall and Shannon open their gift that
has a Dallas Cowboys' bib on it for when baby
Kyle arrives. Sorry, he has no choice than
to be a Cowboys' fan.
Some gifts for them to open together.

Marshall and Shannon are excited about opening
some new books to read. I don't like the Kindle.
Give me a real book to hold. So we gave REAL
books to Marshall and Shannon for Christmas.

Happy faces when they saw their deep fryer.
Visions of fried buffalo wings danced in their heads

Sweet Gabi in her Molly pajamas shares a
smile with her mom.Gabi was so excited to receive the miniature
version of her American Girl Molly doll. Love that smile.


Gabi wants to go home from Uncle Marshall's
so she can play with her toys that Santa brought her.

Christmas evening we had Christmas with Emma, Syd, Hayes, Mark, and Drake as they wouldn't be able to spend family Christmas with us on the 27th. Mark loves baseball, loves to read, what better combination for a gift.

Maren was very pleased with her Cold Stone
Wii game. I haven't found a Baskin Robbins one.Drake loves trains, any kind of train; and he
loves his Papa Petersen. They are true buddies.

When I was little, I had a Chatty Cathy doll. You pulled the string in her back and she would talk. Hallmark, this year, had put out a Chatty Cathy ornament that you can actually get to talk by pulling a small string on the back. Gabi saw mine on my tree and was so excited to get her very own for her Christmas tree.

Drake opening one of his Dinosaur trains.
I just love that little face.

OK, every big sister gets bunny ears when her
brother sees that she is getting her picture taken.
The hat was Syd's Christmas gift.

My beautiful Emma, even though she dresses
in Batman shirts, jackets, and even carries a
Batman purse. She is getting too grown up; time
to lock her up away from the boys.

Isabella loved opening presents, but her favorite
thing to do was to eat whatever she was given
whether it be paper or a glow worm toy.

Poor Syd. I gave her a Justin Bieber calendar for 2011
and the boys made fun of her over and over again.

Drake once again with his trains.

It wouldn't be Christmas without a new DS game.

Braydon tries to chase Drake to thank him
for his present.

Looks like Isabella ended up with two glow
worms. My mom said when there are multiple
gifts alike, that shows good taste!! So, Meigan I
guess you and I have good taste.

Drake and his Thomas the Train DVDs.

Christmas Day was filled with much celebration and it was wonderful to be together with family. The look of thrills and joy on the faces of the little ones is what made me smile this Christmas season. And, the faces of those we surprised, those who showed such gratefulness showed us the true meaning of Christmas..to forget ourselves and to celebrate the joy of others.