Now that the girls are grown and have their own families, we have made some adjustments to our Christmas Eve and Christmas morning routines. It is usually just Gary and I for Christmas Eve since the girls usually spend that with their in laws. We enjoyed a nice quiet evening together. On Christmas morning the girls and their families open their own gifts before joining us. Since Sarah, Tony, and Abby live with us, we stayed in the family room while they had their own family Christmas morning. We ate our traditional breakfast together, breakfast casserole and my mom's crumb top coffee cake. I have had the coffee cake every Christmas that I can remember.
We let Liz know when we were done with breakfast and they loaded up and came over. Lori, Clay's mom came with them too. We always enjoy having Lori over. She's just another member of the family and a good friend too.
Abby and Tony play with her new Magna Doodle while they waited.
Stockings for the Ainas
Stockings for the Kissels
Abby in Uncle Clay's Santa hat.
My new Nativity set. I still have my old one that Gary bought when our girls were little. It will be one the grandchildren can play with just like their mothers used to do.
Abby waiting for the Kissels to come in
Liz watching the girls.
Tony and Abby sing Winter Wonderland. They went caroling to friends on Christmas Eve. Tony plays his ukulele, Abby plays her "shakey egg" Abby sings softly along and then Tony stops and lets her fill in the last word of a phrase. Loved hearing her say "conspire"
Opening the stockings
Abby helping pass out the presents. She liked tossing the gifts :-)
Sarah is reaching way back under the tree to get the last of the gifts.
Izzy passing out some of the big packages
My guy!
Snow White Barbie for Izzy
and her own laptop.
Abby got a computer too.
Funny story here. Izzy unwrapped the gift and said, "Waffles, you gave me waffles." (Izzy loves waffles!) She was ready for her next present then. Aunt Sarah had to explain that she didn't really get waffles. Sarah told her to go ahead and open the box.
Izzy was really happy to find a Princess Tiana dress up outfit inside the waffle box. I think I'll have to get her some waffles though.
Abby's favorite gift - Woody, the cowboy from Toy Story. She has an imaginary friend named Woody and loves all the Toy Story characters. It is good this was her last gift. She kept wanting me to take pictures of her with Woody, Woody's boot, Woody's hat, Woody's hand, . . .
Izzy's last gift was a treasure hunt. Aunt Sarah helped her read her clues. Izzy is getting so good at reading. She was thrilled to find her gift, a pretty necklace. Treasure hunts are one of our fun family traditions. Liz is the best clue writer, so she often gets tasked to write the clues. Thanks Liz!
Did I say that Abby loves Woody?
Showing Woody the bookshelf.
Kisses for Woody
Izzy and Abby playing with their new computers.
Tony playing his new mandolin. He had to go on a treasure hunt for this gift also.
Clay dancing with Abby and Izzy before we took family pictures.
The Kissel family
Tony and Abby
Abby escaping after the Aina family photos
My two cute granddaughters
We had a great Christmas Day together. After all of the presents, we had Lasagna and salad for dinner. Then it was time for naps and playing with the presents. It even started to snow. I love my family!
