Christmas day was full of fun. Jay of course was SUPER excited to open presents. This year he definitely gets it!
We were all pretty excited for the day though, mostly because we couldn't wait to see everyone open their presents. The kids in the family draw names and give each other gifts and we usually all give mom and dad a gift too. It was so fun to see all the surprised faces on Christmas morning.
Megs made this awesome shadow box of Mike's Scouting experiences. It is so cool! I'm so excited to show it to Jay as he goes through the scouting program and to show him that his daddy is an Eagle Scout! Thanks Megan :)
Reed had me and he actually MADE these cool holiday decorations for me! He made 3 candle holders, 2 star decorations and 4 block letters that say "love" for Valentines Day. Melis made the same gifts for Megs.
I guess they worked on them together every Sunday. Reed really did make mine too. Apparently he was VERY particular and precise about how everything was cut out, glued and placed together. Melis swears his turned out better than the ones she made! Melissa actually glued beads on her "love" blocks to make the letters but Reed decided to go with cut out scrap book paper because the beads didn't make exact enough letters, plus he hates the strings glue guns make :) We're all in agreement that he will make and excellent surgeon if that's what he decides to do in medical school.
Rob gave Melissa some workout books to use with her balancing ball along with a super cute shirt and sweater set. He always gives great gifts!
Brooklyn gave gave Jay this cool block puzzle. Melissa hand made it for him. The puzzle consists of four blocks with pictures on them. When you put them together they show pictures of Jay with each of his aunts and uncles as well as his grandparents. So fun! Jay gave Brooklyn a cool Elephant game. I didn't get a picture, but he has had one since he was about 6 months and he has loved it. In fact, he still plays with it!
Mike gave Rob this ultimate Gold's Gym home workout system. Rob is big into health and staying fit so I think it was a hit!
I gave Reed this wooden photo album with the Garza family crest on it. We had it made while Mike was in Honduras. I also gave him 2 Eat This Not That books.
Mike and I gave the same book to Jill and Lynn with the Connelly family crest. We also gave one to my parents with the Johnson family crest on it. Pretty cool!
Megan gave her mom with cool wreath with pictures of our family on it. She made it herself after seeing the idea in a store!
Grandma great got some new soft pajamas and a fun neck pillow that vibrates.
Rob gave Lynn this little dog shirt to put on their cat that is constantly shedding. Lynn doesn't like the cat, to say the least, and one reason is because she sheds like crazy - thick, long, black fur. I don't think kitty liked the present quite as much as Lynn.
Here are a few more pics of the morning.
Seeing Grandma Great Connelly!
Jay received a marshmallow gun. I think the boys liked it even better than he did!
On Christmas Even we went over to Jill's brother Jeff's house and had a YUMMY Mexican meal. Keri, our Aunt, is in incredible cook and she made the most amazing tostada meal. mmmm... dare I say it rivaled Cafe Rio? She's awesome. It was fun to see all the extended family.
After dinner we had a white elephant gift exchange. Most of the presents weren't real white elephant gifts, but I think Mike got the idea... poor Sara!
Every Christmas Jill has a Jerusalem meal (usually on Christmas Eve) to celebrate Christ's origins and what a simple meal may have been like for Him. We sit on the floor and eat traditional (as much as possible) Jewish foods. Jill usually tells us some facts about life during Christ's time and we enjoy and nice evening together. I love the tradition! We also write down all our predictions for the new year and read the ones we wrote last year. Here are some pictures from the night.
We had many fun activities while in Utah. Of course we went to the cabin for about half the time and lucky for us there was plenty of snow to play in. Jay had so much fun outside, especially when he and grandma made snowmen together.
While Grandma and Jay built snowmen, I got to hold and feed sleepy baby Brooklyn while her mommy and daddy were away skiing! Look how ADORABLE she is!!
Lynn, Mike, Reed, Melissa, Megan and Mike's good friend Jimmy all went skiing on the perfect ski day of the week. There was a big storm the night before and then sunny skies for them while they skiied. Lucky! I can't wait to go with them next time when I'm not prego. Here are the pictures of all the action.
On another day up at the cabin when everyone was home Jay went out in the snow with Grandma, Mimi and Daddy. He loves the snow and he loves his daddy!
Here are a few more cabin highlights.
Jay tried to finagle anyone and everyone into playing games with him. Grandma and Grandpa were solicited most :)
