As Aubrey would say, "let's be honest" this post could go on forever. It's about Christmas day. We have one billion pictures. I want to post them all and say all the things about them. We also had a full day. But, once more, let's be honest. It's mid-March. We have done a quarter year of living since then, and I may never catch up with the blogging unless I allow my self to go skimpy. For the sake of my sanity, I'm going to try.
Santa's gifts look so small....that's what teen and young adult preferences plus one on a mission will do for you.
The cute kiddos waiting in the hall to see their Santa gifts. They will always be my babies. I am missing that one in Ghana for sure.
Sorting the gifts
Lots of hugs and thank yous after each gift was exchanged. Each year it seems Aubrey is my easiest to shop for. I think because she is the baby. She still has a few legit gifts she wants....not just the elusive "clothes or anything/I don't know" responses. I think I may be in trouble next year though. She will be a few days away from sixteen.
Aub gave me a salad spinner this year. It was on my wish list, and I have used it several times. I'm not sure how I got to be 48 1/2 years old and never owned a salad spinner. Not a must have, but kind of a fun accessory if you have room.
Tanner and Aubrey insisted that Brian give them some specifics for gifts this year. They are tired of trying to guess and just getting him Coke Zero or his favorite candy bar. They always ask me for ideas for Bri too, but he's tough. He likes plenty of things, but they are usually random tool bits or things for woodworking that we would never know about. He came through this year with some ideas for the kids, and they were pleased.
Tanner didn't give many gift ideas this year. We are all spoiled. He ended up receiving lots of clothes and a few gift cards to fast food places around town. He gave sweet gifts as well. He gave me a really pretty pair of earrings and some large Hershey bars.
Aubrey gave Brinley lots of bath/spa items. (And if I blogged in December, I would know what Brinley gave Aubrey...some cute stickers but I don't remember what else.) Aub gave Tanner lots of extra large treats. She kept begging him to give her real gift ideas, but he just kept saying anything was fine. I know he appreciated all the sugar.
Tanner gave Aub a makeup set she wanted plus an eyebrow gel she was sure she needed. I'm glad he got her the eyebrow gel. I never would purchase something like that, but she sure loves it!
Brinley received some fun church materials (Don't Miss This study manual, wall hanging, General conference journal, plus clothes and some kitchen items for her apartment. She and Tanner opened airpod pros. They were both excited for those. Bryn gave me and Bri one of her missionary name tags along with the sweetest thank you note about our love and examples.
The Christmas morning mess!
Enjoying the yummy breakfast Brian prepared for us.
Gram and Grampa usually make the rounds to each house on Christmas morning. This year, due to Gram's health, they stayed home. We stopped by after lunch, and it was so fun. The Kerry Vores and Birds stopped by too, and we had a mini family gathering. It added a lot of excitement, love and fun to our Christmas day.
Grandpa, Gram, Tanner, Aub, me, Bryn, Char, Braddock, Hudson, Brit, and Adam
They gave our kiddos cute shirts and fuzzy socks from Deseret Book. We gave them the traditional Shutterfly photo calendar, an automatic soap dispenser and an outfit for Gram.
Parker was able to call! I was a little concerned that he would feel sad if he saw all the gifts we were opening. He only received what we could fit into one Ziploc bag which was candy and a couple of small card games. (More on his b-day and Christmas gifts
here.) However, he was more than fine. By the time he called, we were done with gift opening, and he was excited to visit and tell us about his day.
And...just look at his smile. He is beaming. It says it all. Getting to talk to him on Christmas Eve and Christmas day was the best!
We love Parker Bryce so much. He is doing good things in Ghana, and Ghana/a mission is doing great things for him. (And isn't that how God works? We sacrifice/serve/give, but He is always giving us so much more in return.)
Well, so much for my resolve to keep this post short, but I hope we will be able to remember this beautiful Christmas day filled with love and family.
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