Christmas with the Connellys

We had a fabulous pre-Christmas Christmas celebration with the Connellys. They went all out making it really feel like Christmas day for us. It was special because Mike couldn't spend the actual Christmas day with us so celebrating with the Connellys allowed Mike to see Jay's excitement as if it were the real deal.

For our Christmas Eve dinner we ate the traditional Connelly family Jerusalem meal. It was very tasty and we had fun eating on the floor. Jay was a little confused, but he seemed to like it too. The cheese squares were his favorite part, of course.

After dinner we made a gingerbread house. The men assembled it and the woman decorated. Jay helped by eating any extra candy that couldn't fit on the house.

Jay had fun wearing this handkerchief on his head. Grandpa really wanted him to stand up on the stair case pole but Jay just wanted to sit. He thought he was pretty funny.

We decorated the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve using all natural decorations, since we were in the cabin. Here's Jill and Lynn making homemade bows.

Megan strung cranberries on a string. It took her about an hour to do this one strand!

After decorating the tree we watched a Hallmark Christmas movie entitled, "Twice Upon a Christmas." Unfortunately we didn't consult imbd.com before watching it. How we sat through the first half is unknown and watching it through the fast forward button during part two was hardly bearable. Needless to say, you will be doing yourself a favor to never watch this movie! I can say that it was entertaining to make fun of it as a whole family :)

Here are the girls, ready for Christmas day to begin!
Christmas morning! Yes, Jill made us pose for this picture ;)
Ready to open our loot!
Jay checking out his cool new "twatoe" (tractor).

Awww, Grandpa... I love you. Kisses!
Come on Uncle Wobbie, help me out!

Daddy and baby bug.

Mike's cool gift to Melissa. It's an edge brownie pan and makes perfect brownies.
Megan and Reed received Texan Christmas trees. Aren't they fun?
Jay loves to help clean so we got him a broom for Christmas. He thought he was pretty cool helping daddy sweep up.

Check out Reed's mula! Too bad those are only one dollar bills ;)
Jay and grandma playing with his new remote control car. It was a big hit!
This is probably Jay's favorite present. So much so that he not only got one in Utah, but in California too. It's a cool marble maze and Jay can't get enough of it! This picture actually features two Christmas presents. The photo was taken by our new cannon camera that has a setting which will focus on one color and make the rest black and white. We love it!
Getting tired. It's been a long day! Jay actually didn't even open all his presents until a few days after Christmas. He would get so excited about one gift that he didn't want to be bothered opening another. I'm sure that will change soon!
Reading a story with grandpa.
Jay loves his Uncle Robbie!

So sleepy!!! Jay fell asleep in his favorite place - grandmas arms.