I got everything I wanted

We had a fun filled Christmas week. Jared was able to take off the whole week for Christmas, which was the first time in our entire marriage he's been able to do so. We've been able to catch up spending lots of time together. For FHE last Monday we took Adam to see the movie BOLT, then a nutritious kid-friendly dinner at McDonalds before we headed Interlochen to see the Christmas lights.

Later in the week we had numerous family events. On Christmas Eve we were able to spend the day with Jared's mom & step-dad. Jared's brother & family came up and everyone got to open up presents from Grandma Ann & Grandpa Tom. The adults may have been outnumbered by red-headed children.

We have a tradition of Christmas Eve dinner with my parents. My dad cooks out the best steaks we have eaten all year (you can still grill in Texas -- even in December). We were truly glutinous Christmas Eve with all the good food. We exchanged presents after playing some games. I was surprised by my dad organizing the games. He's usually not that into playing games unless it involves the lottery or the Dallas Cowboys. We had fun trying to make holiday words from letters written on ping pong balls, figuring out Cowboy trivia, and remembering Christmas carols based solely on the first letter of each word.

Christmas morning Santa had made his big appearance which thrilled Adam. He brought him the leapster he'd been pining after. Our family tradition is that you can ask for Santa for several things but, that he'll only bring your one most special present Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve Adam gets to lay out a towel somewhere in the living room where he wants Santa to place his present. Then in the morning the gift is open and ready for him to enjoy. Santa realized a few years back that it was too hard for him to get special wrapping paper that mom & dad didn't already own, so he just doesn't wrap at our house. Adam doesn't mind because he gets to play with his "it" item first thing in the morning. Santa knew exactly what to get Adam. Mom was lacking in the gift giving department. Adam saw a small garbage truck somewhere and had asked for it all of December. I hope it's not in reference to a future career choice -- if it is I hope I get the perk of no charge for an extra bag of trash left curbside. I found him a different bigger truck that dumps the contents of garbage can into the truck, it makes noises, and has a man that can "drive" the truck. As soon as he opened that he had his display of ingratitude "...but, I wanted the small one!" Once daddy put it together he decided it was better than a smaller one. Grandma Ann & Grandpa Tom came over and made us some great waffles for breakfast.