CHRISTMAS EVE GIFTS

Every year sense my dad was a little boy my Grandpa George has had to work Christmas day so they always opened all their gifts Christmas Eve. This tradition continued on until about 7 years ago when my grandma said it was getting to hard for her to have us all come to her house. We now go to my parents house so my grandma can give us her gifts on Christmas Eve. My mom is trying to figure out how she wants to continue this tradition. Last year she brought all our gift to each of our houses Christmas morning, but she didn't care for that because she felt like she was taking away from Santa for the grandchildren and also we didn't get to watch each other open gifts. This year she decided to give us all our gifts on Christmas Eve. I don't think words can describe how excited Rylan was to come back to Grandma Zips house and find out he gets to open presents. Who knows what she will decide to do next year, but the kids were sure glad she chose to do it this way this year!

PAISLEE'S BLANKET

I FINISHED IT!!! If you haven't read previous post I have been working on blankets sense July and completed 3 of the four until now. I finished it just two days before Christmas. My mom again was a huge help in getting the finishing touches done. I have the hardest time with putting the boarder around the side. Paislee loved it, she hasn't felt well tonight and we have just been snuggling in it.

CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS

Every year my mom gives each family the 12 days of Christmas and on Christmas Eve we open day 12 and get our Christmas pajamas. This tradition started when my mom was a little girl and her mom would do the same for their family. As my moms family started getting older my grandma started sewing for all 34 of her grandchildren. I am pretty sure she started sewing in July!!! Each Christmas growing up we always knew Grandma Zobrist was going to give us treats for the 12 days of Christmas. After Grandma past away my mom as continued the tradition. I am so thankful for her and everything she does to keep the family traditions going.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Every year we have the opportunity to spend Christmas Eve with both of our family's. We started the day off with going to see the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Squeakquel with Jordan's parents. It was a very cute movie and Rylan loved it. Paislee is just too active to sit through any movie. After that we headed to my parents for our traditional Port of Sub dinner. Once dinner was finished and Jenn & Jeff made it to town we joined Jordan's family in handing out hats, gloves, beanies, jackets, socks and candy to the homeless. I still am not comfortable taking Paislee with us, but it is an experience that I am so grateful to have with Rylan. This year Rylan understood exactly why we were out there and wanted to give every person something. He was not afraid of any of the men. I was so proud of my almost 5 year old son going out to serve his fellow man. I don't have to many pictures but here are a few.

Loading the car to head down town

I'm really not sure why I looked so grumpy!

Jordan found this jacket in the piles to give out and thought he should be able to keep it. Thank goodness he ended up giving it to someone!

PAISLEE'S CHRISTMAS DRESS

This year I was a lot more on the ball than last year. I found Paislee's Christmas dress at the beginning of November! I even got Rylan a new suit. The Primary children sang in church yesterday and he looked like a stud up there. Paislee kept telling me she looked like Santa!

SANTA AGAIN?!?!

We had our ward party on Friday night and yet again Paislee HATED Santa. I think it was worse this time. I'm not really sure what her deal is because she loves talking about him and even enjoys looking at him, but when it comes time to sit on his lap she just isn't having it. I guess that really is a good thing she doesn't like sitting on a strange mans lap! She doesn't even want to be close to him.

MAGICAL FOREST

Today we had the opportunity to go to the Magical Forest with my ward. It was an unbelievable deal, we got in for $10 for the family and when I calculated it, it would have cost us $50 plus all the rides were free! Rylan and Paislee had a ball. Rylan couldn't get enough of the slide and Paislee loved the carousal. It was a wonderful morning. I jut love the feeling of Christmas there. Paislee keeps asking if we can go again! I think Paislee went on the carousal 6 times!!!We tried the little slide before we headed to the BIG slide.

Rylan got to ride the slide 10 times!!!

We got to visit with Santa!!! Paislee was not to happy about Santa.

This Santa was more to her liking!

Rylan was happy to make sure Santa knew he wanted Bakugan's for Christmas!

Santa even got Grandma Zip on his lap!!!

My future Fire Man!!

We had to tell the kids we were going to have lunch with Aunt & Portlynn so they would leave.

No we are not driving!!!