Merry Christmas!!!

The Holmes family had a fantastic Christmas this year spent with family and friends.  It started last night when Grandma H came over to have dinner and then look at Christmas lights around the town.  Collin was interested in the lights at first but then got bored and started singing made up songs.  Daddy was taking notes about the light displays he really liked so he could stock up on yard displays for next year.  Sounds like we are going to add more deer and white Christmas trees.

We came home and watched Elf before Collin finally was tired enough to go to bed.  We then got ready for Christmas morning and then went to bed.  Collin was so excited about Santa but did finally settle down.

The next morning, Collin woke up around 7am and was ready to open presents but surprisingly had patience and slowly opened his gifts.  He did not linger looking at the gifts Santa brought him like I thought he would.  That's probably because it was a Lego set that needed to be put together.  For the first round or two, he did get the gifts from under the tree and passed them out to either Daddy, Grandma H or myself.  He opened up the following besides the gifts from Santa which were the Lego castle and accessories he asked for last year and then again let Santa recently know this year:

• Books
• Wii U game console plus several games
• Airplanes that either flew by twisting a rubber band or shooting the plane with a rubber band
• Compass
• Movies for Grandma H's house such as Planes, Croods, and Turbo
• Night light that shows stars on the ceiling
• Remote controlled car
• Wooden car and airplane to build

Sitting by the Lego castle and accessories

One happy little boy

Time for stockings.  That's my favorite part.

Wii U game

After opening presents, we had brunch.  I LOVED this idea especially because it was just the four of us AND it was so easy to plan and cook.  I made Monkey Bread, crustless quiche (which was not ready in time) and a side of bacon.  Grandma H never had Monkey Bread before but really liked it. 

After brunch, we watched two of the new movies:  Croods and Planes.  Collin only watched some of Planes because he was busy playing with some of his new toys.  After the movie and Grandma H left, Collin and I played outside before Mimi, Pappy and Dustin arrived.  Time for more presents!  Collin LOVED the soft Monkey blanket and really liked the remote controlled car Nancy got him.  He also liked the whoopie cushion before he jumped sat on it a few times and it broke within 5 minutes of him opening it.

Monkey blanket that includes pockets for his hands and even a little monkey tail

 Before Mimi, Dustin and Pappy left, we had to take a few family pictures in front of the tree.  However, you cannot see much of the tree.  Sorry Mimi!!

Mimi and Dustin

Pappy and Mimi

Mimi and Me

Mimi and Pappy getting crazy under the mistle toe

The fun Holmes family

We left the house and went to the Mosses for an early dinner and for the kids to exchange gifts.  Collin had a great time playing with Oliver and Lucy before eating the meal.  He did not like that we included green and orange stuff on his plate.  After eating the carrots, he announced that he was going to choke.  Thanks kid!  Then, he said that the turkey stunk.  I am so glad these are good friends of ours...and that Oliver had the same table manners as Collin.  The kids continued to play after the meal while the adults talked. 

Before heading to the Polleys to exchange gifts, we saw the Henleys across the street so we gave the kids their gifts.  We then stayed at the Polleys for about an hour just long enough to watch the dance performance the Polley boys made up for us, exchange gifts for the boys and then have the adults catch up while the kids played.  We missed seeing the Jureks but we will catch up with them over the next few days.

What a great day and a very memorable Christmas.