Vacation 2013: Day 8 - Christmas Day

We celebrated Christmas early in Texas so we wouldn't have to bring lots of presents to Utah and back.  But we did save a few presents so the kids could have something to open on "real Christmas."  Brandon's parents also had presents for the kids.  I hadn't planned to do stockings again, but when Brandon's mom asked me if she should get something for the kids stockings I realized that stockings would look really cute hanging over the fireplace at their cottage.  

We all slept in the living room of the cottage again so Santa had to be extra magic to leave out the presents while we were sleeping.

The kids didn't notice the presents at first, but then they did.  They were so excited and wanted to start opening presents right away.  Steve and Jacque got up and we started opening presents.

Jacque gave the girls princess crowns, jewelry, shoes, and wands.  They LOVED them.

Veronica got a little soft doll.

After we were done with presents Steve and Jacque made us all breakfast.  Their kitchen is incredibly small so we just had ego waffles.  They were really good.  Brandon bought "The Santa Clause" for us, so we watched that while we ate.

We gave the kids playdough and a little playdough tool set.  Brandon and the girls played with that for a long time.

When the movie was over we packed everything up and then drove an hour to my parents house.  They were waiting to open presents until we arrived.  They gave lots of art supplies to the kids. 

Derrick hadn't really cared about any of his toys.  But then he opened up the present from my mom and dad.  He was so so so so so excited about the ball that they gave him. (This picture doesn't show how happy he really was.)  He started throwing it right away.  Everyone had been giving him toys based on what Brandon likes.  He got little toy tools and a toy airplane.  But when he got the ball it was like he was saying, "Finally, this is what I really wanted!"  I think that this little boy is going to turn us into an organised sports type of family.

My brother Billy had come up from Provo to spend the next few days with us.  All my kids fell in love with him.  They had lots of fun playing around with him (and his i-phone).

The girls tested out their new watercolor paints.

And then we set up the computer equipment so we could Skype with my sister Hillary.

The big computer wasn't working, but luckily we still had my dad's i-pad.  Even though the screen was small it was still great to see and hear Hillary.  She is currently serving a mission in Louisville (pronouced low-vol) Kentucky.  She's been on her mission since April and will come home around Halloween.  She told us lots of great stories.  She was surprised at how big all my kids are.

Hillary could only talk for 40 minutes.  The time flew by and soon it was time to say goodbye.  My parents wont get to Skype with her again until Mother's Day.

Billy got out his French Horn and played it for us.

The girls got the little French Horn ornament off of the tree and took turns playing that.  Billy is a member of the Orchestra at Temple Square.  The first time we watched him play during one of the Music and the Spoken Word broadcasts the girls turned to me and asked, "where's his little French horn?"  I couldn't believe they remembered that little ornament from last year.

I took a nap.  I woke up to Derrick laughing his head off while playing with Billy.

While I was asleep the girls bundled up and played in the snow in the backyard.  My mom said they were so light they didn't even break through the snow crust.

In the evening we went out to my Aunt Julie's house so my cousins Heidi and Melissa could see Veronica and the other kids.  My Aunt Vera was there too.  Derrick kept pointing to their Christmas Tree and asking, "dah dah dah" which roughly translates to "what is that?"  And my dad would answer, "Christmas Tree."  They probably did that at least 100 times.  Then Derrick found a toy truck and played with that for about an hour before going back to asking about the Christmas Tree.

Charlotte was playing in the basement with someone.  I thought it was my cousin Heidi, but then I realized that Heidi was talking to Billy.  Charlotte was playing with my aunt Vera.  Charlotte later told me, "I like that girl."

Lydia fell asleep on the way to Julie and Mark's house.  She didn't wake up until about 5 minutes before we left. Billy decorated her with stuffed animals.

Brandon and I had lots of fun talking to my family.  They had lots of treats and that they shared with us.  I probably ate at least 10 truffles.  When all the treats were gone it got late we said goodbye and drove back to my parents house.  It had been a great Christmas day.