Christmas

(Notice all the presents still in the background on the 27th. We did not finish opening them until the Friday after Christmas. It is a great way to keep Christmas around longer.)

Then on the 31st, Zane was playing with his tools, and decided to have a seat in the drawers of the tool bench.

At 7:30 on Christmas morning, we got the call that they were ready to open presents at the Giffords. Santa also found their house and brought a present for the grandkids, a horse to ride. Zane is in heaven. He loves the horse. He has almost figured out how to get on by himself and definitely knows how to push the ears and get the horse to sing.

Zane is even sort of willing to share when the other grandkids come over, but only if he gets turns too.

At 10:00 it was time to head over to the Despain's for breakfast and more gifts. Pa made a delicious breakfast of oatmeal pancakes, yummy homemade syrup, homemade hashbrowns, and bacon. Mommy was starving and so this was her favorite part of the morning, well at least a tie with the necklace from Daddy. All the kids went in together for gifts for my mom. We gave her a digital picture frame that plays pictures, video and music. She loves it and watched it all day.

My dad got a smoking deal on his big gift to my mom. He gave her a leather jacket, which she adores, and saved $150 on it. That makes it an even better present at our house!


After Christmas at the Despains, it was nap time. Then Christmas dinner with the Giffords. After that, Zane and Mommy went over to Granny's for a few minutes to see the Brintons. Soon it was back home to talk to Uncle Ben via video calls over the internet from his mission in the Phillipines. It was so good to see him and hear him. We thought Zane would not remember Ben after almost 8 months, but we were surprised that Zane remembered him and wanted to give him "sweets" (what Pa calls pounding fists) through the computer. I wish I would have gotten pictures, but it was too much fun just visiting with all of the family and Ben.

We had a wonderful Christmas and we hope everyone else did too. Even through all of the gifts, we did not forget the real reason for the season. We are grateful to our Savior, Jesus Christ, for coming to earth as an infant to show us the way to live and then atoning for our sins so that we can return to live with our Father in Heaven again and with all of our family. We also hope that this new year finds everyone happy and healthy.