Christmas is over, already???

Well Christmas is officially over and I cannot believe the New Year is finally upon us! We had a great Christmas, busy as always, but it was great to see friends and family during the season. It's so easy to get caught up in all the commotion and festivities of the Christmas season that we forget the true meaning of Christmas-the birth of our Savior!

Ty ended up having Christmas Eve off so we were able to start making our rounds on Saturday instead of Monday like we thought we'd have to do. First we went to my Aunt and Uncle Smith's house and celebrated Christmas with my dad's side of the family. It was great to see everyone, I hadn't seen some of them since my cousin Britton's wedding (over a year ago). Santa always comes to visit and as I'm assure you can imagine Riley wasn't thrilled. We didn't make her sit on his lap but even when we got close she started screaming. Oh well...there's always next year. Even though Riley wouldn't go to Santa I was really impressed with how well she did with everyone. (If any of you have been around Riley in the past year you know that she rarely lets people hold her, even Grandma and Grandpa, and she especially doesn't do very well with strangers). She loved my brother and cousin, Britton. It was so funny because she had never even met Britton but she would have rather him hold than even me. We couldn't believe it, but were SO happy that she was finally starting to open up to others.

Opening gifts at my Dad's house, Sunday morning!

Okay, she doesn't let everyone hold her yet...still getting used to Papa and Nonnie.

We stayed the night at my dad's on Saturday and in the morning before church he made his famous, homemade donuts, which are a must on Christmas morning!! We opened gifts with them and McKenna and Reagan, hung out for a few hours and then headed to Ty's house to have Christmas there. We got to Ty's house and were so happy to see his Grandpa Arvon. He had a stroke 2 week prior and was finally able to come home after 2 weeks of rehab! We were so thankful that the Lord protected him and helped him recover during this hard time. We ate lunch, chatted with family, then opened gifts. Riley got a "Bounce and Spin Zebra" from Ty's Grandma which she LOVES and a ton of other goodies from his family.

Riley didn't want to open this present, she just wanted to hug it! It was so funny!!

Ty, Riley and Shannon (Ty's mom)!

After having to listen to how many of my friends dread going to see their in-laws over the Holidays I am so extremely thankful for mine. I love Ty's family, from the very beginning they welcomed me with open arms and I have never had to deal with the "meddling mother-in-law" which I appreciate more than she will ever know. Ty's Grandma has also done so much for us over the years, we don't know what we'd do without her help at times!! She always goes all out for Christmas and this year was no exception!! After opening gifts we were exhausted, especially Riley. We stayed at his house then went to my mom's at Gull Lake that early afternoon.

Christmas at my mom's is always eventful and never a dull moment, to say the least. Jori and Lily are always excited to see Riley and she loves playing with them as well. We ate a huge lunch that my mom had prepared and then went to Christmas Ever Service at their church. We came back, opened gifts and ate some more :)! It was fun that Riley is a little older and can kind of open her gifts now, to watch her face lite up is so much fun!! My mom and Jeff got her an American Girl bitty baby. She loves baby dolls right now, so that was probably her favorite gift of all! After all that we drove home so we could wake up in the morning at our own place! Ty and I decided that now that we've got kids we want to be at our house Christmas morning!

Riley and I at Gull Lake, opening gifts.

Riley and Aunt Jori :)!

Thankfully Riley doesn't quite understand yet about Christmas morning and all the presents because she woke up at her normal time (8:00am) instead of waking us up at 5 am, like many kids did to their parents (I'm sure). We opened gifts here and had a big breakfast. Then the rest of the day we made cookies and spent time together as a family, playing and enjoying each other's company. We are thankful for all the gifts we received but are most thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ.

Don't mind the bedhead and PJ's...Ty says that's how Christmas morning is suppose to be!

Daddy, Daughter opening presents.

Riley bouncing on her new Zebra!