How fun to have everyone together for the holidays!  There were presents everywhere, kids playing, Kara helping Grandma with the pictures on the computer and Shay taking some pictures to help fill out the album.  Now, it may seem to some that we took way too many pictures, but, we didn't.  To get the shots that are just so precious takes me longer than it may take others, but they are sure fun to have.

Watching the kids open their stuff was such fun.  The expressions on their faces and the hours they played with the toys after opening them makes it pretty certain that Mom, Aunt Cyndi and Aunt Heidi (Mom for Rhys) all knew exactly what the kids would enjoy and hit a homer with everything.

Rhys can now fix anything that is broken or build something totally new along with playing a wicked soccer game with his new ball.

Then there was the grocery cart for Miss Molly, thankfully Greg Lee and Uncle Drew were able to put it together since it got loaded almost immediately with goodies and pushed all over the house.

Our Heidi made the most wonderful gift baskets of homemade breads and wonderful other items.  She is so talented, wow, sure is nice to have such good bakers and cooks in our family…although…..Grandma is getting a little chunky (similar to my mother which means exercise and take off the extra pounds just like I preached at Mother for years!).  Oh well, the New Year is coming and then it's back to the treadmill and perhaps even the pool.  Thank goodness for the Baymont!  But, back to the original comments about wonderful gift baskets, just look at Greg 

The funny thing was that as soon as everyone left, Cyn and Greg were into the fudge!  Heidi would appreciate that!

Sitting there watching the family open gifts is one of the most precious things that any parents can do, to watch the expressions on the faces, to know that everyone is safe and happy being together, to remember the real reason for the gifting is to honor our Lord on His birth and to just spend some time being happy together.  Doesn't get much better than that.

Shay told jokes while we waited for everyone to gather, now, some of them were really bad, but because they were so bad they were hysterical!  What a nut! 

Jake never quit talking until he started focusing on his new Lego toys.  That child has more Lego's than there are crows in the country, but he truly enjoys them so that is wonderful! 

When it was time to say goodnight, the kids were so tired they were actually in what their parents call "meltdown" which is a really good expression for it. But the little ones still have enough to give each other a bye hug, although I missed the real one, they did it again, just for Grandma!

And so to all, Merry Christmas!  We love you.