Similar to Thanksgiving, scheduling for Christmas worked out wonderfully this year! Eric worked until 3pm on Christmas Eve, then we went to the pageant and service at St. Thomas, and spent the evening with Eric's mom's family. Today we started out with the Green immediate family in the morning, my immediate family in the afternoon and evening, and wrapped up with Eric's dad's extended family tonight.
The pageant at church was really cute, the kids who did solos have great voices. Then at the VanBooven Christmas, we presented Paul with his present from everyone - a 40" Emerson LCD TV. Eric got a KU hat from his grandparents, some new shirts (including a KU plaid shirt!) from the White's, and a Mr. Beer refill kit from the Wells'; I got some craft scissors and a photo album from his grandparents, a laptop desk from the White's, and a Vera Bradley purse from the Wells'. Jen's kids had a blast playing games and messing with their new toys, and everyone enjoyed the snacks and time together.
This morning I started off by opening my birthday present at Paul and Debs - a Jayhawk pillow pet and a great stamp set that I'll use for Squish's birth announcements! Then Deb made her french toast for breakfast and opened our stockings while we ate. Deb is excited that Shannon is finally 21 because now she can add mini bottles of alcohol, hilarious! I got tickets to the New Theatre Restaurant from Eric, a new bath pillow from Shannon, and a wall mounted photo frame jewelry box from Paul and Deb; Eric got motorcycle gloves from Shannon, wireless TV headphones from me, a Mr. Beer kit from Paul & Deb, and some money to buy bottles for his beer - Paul and Deb also got us a crate to keep in my trunk to carry everything in and our own copy of Quirkle!!
When we got back to Mom and Alan's house, we started right in on gifts because Kris and Ashley were antsy from waiting for our arrival! We were really excited to give Ashley a corkboard and pins (the same thing we got for Shannon), Kris an Achmed (Jeff Dunham) Snuggie, Alan a flying Duck Hunt game, and Mom her microwave slippers. Then I got Logos the board game, Eric got Truth Be Told (a game similar in concept to Balderdash, but answering questions about other players), Squish got a perfect high chair and we each got a Barnes and Noble Nook Simple Touch! Luckily the Nook's took awhile to charge, or we never would have moved on to stockings and lunch! Then our family actually spent time together playing our new games and watching Cowboys vs. Aliens, whoa!
Finally, we drove out to the Green's Christmas gathering to visit with even more family! We arrived after a lot of people had left, but we still got to hang out with Paul, Deb, Shannon, Phil, Edie, Grant, Steven, Pete, and probably some other people too.
My favorite gift this year is actually looking pregnant!
The pageant at St. Thomas was really adorable!
Rebecca and Caleb
Shannon, Paul, Stephanie, Grandpa and Grandma VB
Scott, Eric, Deb, and Diann
Super hero men!
The gifts that we brought to each of our families!
Our Christmas card this year
My birthday presents!
Eric's new headphones!
