The Family Christmas

Kyle and her future husband, and children, arrived around 1 a.m. Sunday night...tired...sleepy... and worn out by the twelve hour drive from Texas to Georgia. Don and I were asleep. Sam barked when they opened the front door and woke us up. I walked into the upstairs hallway and instantly had three little ones hugging me, and kissing me, and saying, "we love you Grandma Robin." Hailey was asleep on her feet, Hayden said, "I'm going to sleep the minute I get into the bed," and Zach was just excited. I think I went to bed around 3:30 a.m.


Monday morning Kyle and I spent several hours discussing the wedding plans and later she took the kids to see her Grandmother and then Amber. Don and Darrell played golf. I had pulled my back out and thankfully Darrell had prescription muscle relaxers...or I would've ended up in bed all weekend. After everyone returned it was a long wait for Santa Claus... so the kids worked on making a gingerbread house...and did a great job!



Hailey, Zach, Hayden, and Kyle













The final result!

The next morning Santa had visited and left Zach, Hailey and Hayden their gifts at Poppa Don's and Grandma Robin's house. They were so cute opening their gifts. They open their gifts differently than our family normally does...all at one time instead of from the youngest to the oldest. Kyle had a difficult time understanding this tradition... so different than what she was used to doing. They had games and toys and stockings full of delight...but their favorite gift was their Oklahoma U shirts and footballs!











Christmas morning opening presents....










Hailey got a MP3 Barbie player!

Santa came to see Zeke at his Mom's house...and he and Jason were having dinner at "just Grandma's" house...therefore they would arrive late for our family celebration. The family gifts would have to wait until Zeke and Jason arrived...until Kyle came up with a brilliant idea to keep the kids occupied during the day. They could open ONE gift every hour. It actually was a great idea. Instead of the kids opening a gift...tossing it aside and reaching for the next in their pile...they played with the toy for an hour until it was time for the next.
Hayden and Zach watching the clock!

The funniest part of this entire gift giving process was watching the kids. About 5 minutes before the hour they would stand (or sit in Hayden's case) in front of the microwave and watch the clock. They would yell..."three more minutes"..."two more minutes"..."one more minute Grandma Robin." Then off they would run for their next gift. This was the cutest thing ever!

Milton, Derek and his lovely bride (she is lovely...just a joy to be around) came over and we had dinner. Jason and Zeke arrived and Misha stopped by for a few minutes. Presents were opened...people were hugged..."I love you" was said a lot. It simply was my best
Christmas ever!

The kids help Zeke open his presents. I'm still not certain he even knows what all he got for Christmas!



Even Sam got into the festivities!













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