christmas eve & christmas day

We had a great Christmas this year.  Every year gets a little more exciting as Nate gets older.  He was so fun to watch this year!

CHRISTMAS EVE

We went over to my parents for dinner – a Mexican feast.  We did a mexican feast last year and while that may seem strange – it’s pretty tasty!  Just as we finished up dinner, we heard some bells ringing outside and a knock on the door from Santa Claus.  This is the second year in a row he has managed to squeeze in a Marz visit on Christmas Eve! 

Nate was pretty stoked when he realized who was at the door so he ran to answer it and gave Santa a big hug.

The kids each took a turn sitting on Santa’s lap and Santa gave them each one present.

[a tired baby ryan does not like santa.  he loved him on our first visit to santa!]

sam’s good friend stephanie joined us on christmas eve and for part of christmas day!

We all headed home after dessert to get ready for Santa’s big visit that night.

 

CHRISTMAS DAY

Nate & Ryan gave us a great present . . . about 25 minutes of extra sleep in the morning!  It was great – all of the Christmas Eve fun wore them out.

Nate was so excited it was Christmas and Wes & I loved watching his reactions to everything.

Santa’s delivery to the boys:

our tree on christmas morning.  it was looking pretty bare until a very nice box filled of fun gifts arrived from grandma & grandpa G. on Christmas Eve – that filled it right up!  Thanks Grandma & Grandpa G!

Nate was THRILLED!  He not only loves his stuff – but Ryan’s, too!

It was fun having Ryan this year for his FIRST christmas!

We had waffles for breakfast and Nate played with his toys while Ryan took a snooze and then we went over to my parents house to exchange gifts with the Marz family.  It’s always fun to have everyone around to open gifts together.  We had a yummy lunch and then everyone went on their merry way either back home or to a movie.  While Wes was at the movie Nate and I curled up on the couch and watched Mickey Christmas Carol.  He couldn’t wait for the movie to end so he could play with all of his superhero stuff!

[Something to remember: Nate specifically asked Santa for a tool bench, batmobile & a batcave [and at the end threw in a pretend candy cane and a frog which just wasn’t happening].  He was so excited about everything at our house that he didn’t realize that he didn’t get the Batcave until we were driving to my parents house and he was a little bummed about it.  We kept telling him that Santa can’t bring everything and to be thankful for what he did get.

Well, Nate lucked out and he got the batcave over at Grandma/Grandpa Marz’s house.  His reaction was fabulous when he opened it up.  He was THRILLED.]

Nate, Abbie & Daisy played outside for a while before we headed home. 

                  

   

We really missed at least spending one holiday with all of the Griffeth clan this year.  We wish we lived closer and that the end of December wasn’t Wes’ busy time of the year. 

We have such wonderful friends and family – what a great Christmas season it was this year.  We are very grateful for our Savior and we enjoyed being able to focus on Him in December and look forward to teaching our kids about Him all year long.