Christmas 2013

Christmas Eve Mike went to work so the kids and I stayed home and tidied up the house and enjoyed a relaxing day! Lexi was so excited, she kept asking if it was time to go yet!

The Price's Christmas Eve party is held at a church because the family is so big. Grandma and Grandpa had 8 kids, they have 33 grandkids but she has lost track of the number of great grandkids. It's a LOT!

After dinner, we sing songs and Santa drops in to the party along his way for a busy night! Lexi was very lucky and her name was called at the top of the list of great grandkids (only those 12 and younger get to sit on his lap). She was very excited to tell Santa that she wanted a flutterbye fairy, slippers and gum for Christmas!

Lilly's name was called next AND she did not want to sit on Santa's lap or anything to do with the man in red! She held on tight as could be to Jack. Jack eventually just took her gift and sat down with her! She was the only child that threw a fit.

Jack was up next. He talked and talked and talked to Santa. I told Jack to confess his "sins" to Santa and ask that he still be on the nice list because Mom found out he'd been naughty earlier and lied to her. Jack and Lexi have been jumping from the bunk beds into the crib. Now it all makes sense why bolts and screws on the crib have been falling off. Mom sent Santa an email but told Jack to apologize to Santa and see if his presents could still be delivered.  

Maddy was very last! Her present wasn't even in his bag of tricks. BUT she was so sweet and patiently waited her turn among all the great grands to go sit on his lap and tell Santa that she wanted art stuff for Christmas.

After the party, we rushed home to feed the reindeer!

And as tradition would have, the kids got to open one present before Christmas. Guess what that could be?

Christmas Jammies!!

Madison read the Night before Christmas to the kids. The kids ate the last chocolate on the advent calendar and went to bed. Grama and Grampa Buddy arrived when the kids were in bed, although the excitement was in the air and no one could go to sleep. Jack and Lexi were up past 10:30 looking outside for the reindeer. They finally went to sleep and so did mom and dad and grama and grampa.

I'm not sure who woke up first, Maddy said she heard footsteps downstairs and went to check it out. Just before 8 we were all awake and ready to see if Santa had visited us during the night.

Sure enough he did visit, magic was in the air! The tree was crowded with lots of gifts and of course stockings to get to open. The kids all had one wrapped present in their stocking which indicated which wrapping paper was theirs under the tree. They all got electric spinning toothbrushes in their stockings! Santa knows the Tooth Fairy and they must have talked before hand.

Jack had presents under the tree, Santa must missed mom's email or decided to give him presents anyway.

And it was time to open gifts, I believe Lexi opened her Flutterbye Fairy first. She was so excited! She patiently waited all day for it to charge. The fairy flies. You put your hands under it and it goes up and down, occasionally crashing to the floor. Her delight watching it fly was priceless!

Lilly had skittles in her stocking and was eating candy all morning. She did find a baby doll which she immediately picked up out of its cradle and gave it a hug.

Jack got a book from Puppy Place called Jack! He is finally starting to enjoy to read. Mom bribed him to see if he could finish a book in less then a month and he did it!

Madison also has a mouthful of candy. She wasn't disappointed and got LOTS and LOTS of art projects. She got a tracing art pad, lots of paper, a fancy coloring book, paints and pencils, a scooter and 152 crayons from Grandma Loveridge.

Lexi also got 2 pair of slippers! Stompee's slippers the ears pop up when she walks. She loves these!

To Jack's surprise he got a 3DS XL and lots of games. He was very excited and almost immediately plugged it in to play! 2 days later he had passed on of the games. This boy loves electronics and games!

Lexi got a new doll named Sadie and horse. She carries Sadie with her and sleeps with her in matching jammies.

While we were opening gifts, Uncle Josh skyped in from Spain where he is serving a mission. It was my first Skype experience, so fun to see the person in real life and talk to them.

Soon after that Uncle Brody arrived with more gifts.

Mike got a new SF shirt, a white shirt for church and a puzzle. Our big present was a kitchen remodel so we didn't buy each other gifts. No pictures of me but I got new round kitchen pans to make a cake, I don't have to borrow them anymore from Jen! I also got new boots and socks.

Grama and Grampa even had presents under the tree!

 

Grampa got a fun present from Brody, we had to hide it because it was an interesting present with pictures that were a little suggestive! It sure gave us all a good laugh! Grama and Grampa gave the kids mini DVD players and a movie and case. They love having their own movie player! Mike & I got a new book and money. 

 

Not long after we finished the first round, Grandma and Grandpa Loveridge and Uncle Dan came with more gifts. I didn't get another picture the rest of the day. I hope someone else did.

 

Dan spoiled the kids rotten. He gave us Disney Infinity for the Wii. And then each kid a present. They sure love Uncle Dan, he was on vacation for over a week from Tennessee, it was so fun spending time with him.

Grandma and Grandpa gave us a pass to Thanksgiving Point and money and presents and books. Lexi got Frozen dolls that she loves! Maddy got crayons and a coloring book. Jack got an electrical surge kit. Aren't Grandparents the best!

 

(Here is the mess after Christmas. I think it's still here today! 5 days later. Our tree lights have died (20 years or so with the lights) and we bought new lights on clearance although the new LED lights are so bright I don't like it. We have to undo it again with new lights. 3rd times a charm. Maybe. )

After more gifts, we left to go have eggs golden rod breakfast at Great Grandma Price's houses. We came home to put Lilly down for a nap, she got woken up early to open presents and was in need of a nap. I was too but couldn't fall asleep.

 

We enjoyed Christmas dinner in Lehi with Mike's family. It was another round of gifts and food galore! The kids played with cousins and no one wanted to go home, it had been the best day!