It seems like every year since Chris and I got married, we have to figure out when we're going to celebrate Christmas with just our family . . . or as I've started calling us "The Home Crew". I grew up mostly spending Christmas Day away from home because neither set of my grandparents lived close. Until more recent years, it was pretty much that way for our kids, too, but it never bothered me that my kids sometimes don't wake up in their house on Christmas Day.
In the past few years, since my parents moved to the same town as us, we have had more of an opportunity to celebrate our Home Crew Christmas on Christmas Day. This year, however, we decided to celebrate a day early as Christmas Day fell on a Sunday. I didn't want to be distracted from the Lord's Day with gift opening and such, so we decided we would wake up on the 24th and celebrate our Christmas then.
I made us all matching shirts!
My favorite kids 💓
We started our morning with cinnamon rolls, got the kitchen cleaned up, then sat down to exchange gifts. We always begin with stockings!
I love some of the pics I got this year from the gift opening process. So many fun expressions! Brecklyn is excited about our new Echo!
The kids have been wanting this!
After stockings, we have the kids give their gifts to us one by one. It takes time, but we love these special moments.
Brecklyn and Daddy
Brooke and Daddy
Bren and Daddy
Brianna and Daddy
This year, I gave Chris a leather satchel that he's been wanting.
It was my turn next!
Brecklyn and Momma
Brooke and Momma
Bren and Momma
Brianna and Momma
Chris got me a new fitness watch!
They are phone holders that look like a taco and a burrito, haha!
Since Bri and Bren each got a special gift, we gave Brooke and Brecks a special gift, too.
They also got fitness watches!
The girls were all excited about the gifts Bren gave them!
Brianna makes sure things are never boring, lol.
Bren is kind of hard to shop for because most of the things on his list are more than the siblings gift budget. The girls decided to all go in together and get him Ticket to Ride. We're excited to play!
Brecklyn hugging Brianna
Brooke hugging Brianna
Brecklyn hugging Brooke
Finally, we let the kids open their gifts from Mom and Dad and "Santa". We take our time with this process, too. The girls really loved this book that Santa brought them.
New bedding for Bri!
Bren is always excited to receive a Nerf gun!
Love this face!
Brooke got just what she asked for . . . roller blades!
Brecklyn asked for a new scooter!
The girls also got their own pair of binoculars to take with us on our travels. They had to try them out right then.
Play-Doh is always a hit!
More bedding accessories for Bri
The look on Brecklyn's face is priceless!
Brooke with a new necklace and Brecklyn with new earrings
The big kids got Big Comfys a couple years ago (maybe last year?), and the twins have been wanting them, too. Santa came through!
It usually takes us close to two hours to go through our gift opening process. After all the gifts are opened, the kids know that it's time for my traditional "In the Wrapping Paper" photo.
Love!
And then . . . they get to have a wrapping paper fight! They LOVE this every year!
Once we clean up the wrapping paper a little, we let the kids explore their new things while Chris and I make lunch. We had our traditional meal of roast gravy, mashed potatoes, cream corn, rolls, and salad. It always tastes so good!
We spend the remainder of the day enjoying our new loot and relaxing. I love seeing the kids explore their gifts. I put a lot of thought and effort into making sure they get things they will be excited about and use, so I really enjoy watching them do just that!
This year, we invited Grampy and G-Jo to come spend the evening with us since it was Christmas Eve. We worked a puzzle, played a game, and had finger foods to eat.
The next morning - Christmas Day - we went to Bible study and worship services, then to Grampy and G-Jo's house for lunch with the Earls. I took my usual Sunday afternoon nap, then we headed back to evening worship service. It was one of the most low-key and relaxed Christmas Days I've probably ever had! And somehow, I didn't manage to take one single photo the whole day. Ah well.
On Monday morning, we hit the ground running to prepare for another round of company that came in that evening. I'll share all about that in a separate post. We are certainly blessed with lots of family that enrich our lives and that we get to spend holidays with!
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