Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! We had a great Christmas weekend! I finished up shopping on Friday and Saturday. It was so nice to know that before Christmas Eve I had everything wrapped and ready to go. I usually have to do some shopping on Christmas Eve, but not this year.

Sunday, Christmas Eve, we were able to go to church that morning and enjoy a nice Christmas message. The Primary kids did a little nativity play that I was able to watch some of. It was very cute! I can't believe that in less than 2 weeks, Eli will be out of Nursery and in Primary. He and another nursery kid came in to watch the nativity play. He sat so still and seemed to enjoy the kids performance.
After church, we took Jamie to work. He had to work until 6pm that night. The kids and I came on home. They had both fallen asleep on the way home, so I was able to prepare the green beans for our lunch and cook Santa's cookies. I had to wake them both up around 2pm to go up to Richard's house for the Branham family Christmas get together. We had a delicious lunch at Richard's and then opened some gifts. The kids enjoyed getting toys and then had a blast outside. It turned out to be such a nice afternoon. Abby was great with Katie. She sat her on her lap and helped her open her gifts. It's great when the kids get old enough to help out with the little ones.
After playing up at Richard's for a couple of hours, I ran down the hill to our house and packed up all the presents that were going over to my parents to open Christmas morning. I figured it would be easier taking them over Sunday instead of Christmas morning. The kids and I left from there and ran by the house to put out our Reindeer food and Eli put out Santa's cookies. We then headed to Home Depot to wait for Jamie to get off. As soon as he punched his time card, we were off to Barnwell. Fortunately Katie slept some more as we drove and Eli watched Sponge Bob in the backseat.
We got to Barnwell and enjoyed being with the Benson family. Eli sure loved to see his cousins. We had a delicious meal and then opened presents. Eli got a drum that he was thrilled about. He and Olivia both got one and they had a blast playing like they were in a band. It also came with a tamborine, maraccas, and a harmonica. At one point they were taking turns--one at the piano and one on the drums. It was great! Katie got a kitchen that we put togther Monday night and had fun playing with her tea set.
We left Barnwell around midnight and headed back home. Once we got home, we set out "Santa's" presents and I must have gotten into bed about 2:30am. I slept pretty hard considering the excitement of Christmas morning to come.
Christmas morning, I got up and got ready and then had to wake up all of my sleepy heads(Jamie included.) They were all so tired, but once that Eli and Katie saw what Santa had brought them, they woke on up. Eli had a bike and Katie had a dollhouse! We opened presents and then got dressed to head on over to my parents house. Katie was more interested in eating candy than opening presents. I guess next year I can just buy her a little food and she'll be happy. ; )
Over at my parents, we had a great breakfast of grits, sausage, eggs, homemade biscuits, and juice. It was fabulous with those fresh ground grits! We then had a mass opening of presents. I decided this year to watch my kids open all their presents before I opened anything. It was nice to see what they got. It also was then nice to open my gifts after they were off playing with their toys. Katie got some more baby dolls and lots of diapers along with several other items. Eli got a motorized police scooter, a game, clothes, and a few other items. Jamie got a new iron and I got a new microwave along with some other great presents. Too much to name. We are very blessed to have had such a great Christmas!
We spent the day at my parents house. The kids both slept all afternoon and Jamie and Daddy hung out down in the shed with a nice fire. That evening everyone got together again for supper.
Yesterday, I was off and I went shopping at 7am and was home by 9am. I spent the day trying to organize and pack. We're moving hopefully in the next 2 weeks. We have purchased a home and we're moving it next door to my parents. There's so much to do. I never realized how much stuff we have until it's time to move it. Wish me luck!