Christmas Come and Gone

Another Christmas has come and gone, and it was a great one - filled with family and friends.
Christmas Eve we attended church with my parents at their ward. They have a very small congregation and it was fun to go back to the ward I grew up in and see people I know. Our plan was to just attend Sacrament Meeting, but Daniel insisted on going to Nursery afterward so we ended up staying for all three meetings. Daniel had no qualms about going into a strange nursery room with people he didn't know. He was less clingy than he usually is at our ward! Funny kid. Jackson was making friends with a baby girl his age in Sunday School & Relief Society. They did a total germ swap (or "cultural exchange" as Papa calls it), playing with each others toys and touching each others faces.
After church we had a late breakfast/early lunch with my parents (and a nice visit too!). Then we came home and let the boys nap while Gary went and did his Ward Clerk duties at our ward. When he returned home we loaded up the boys and headed out to Gary's brothers house for a family get together. Russ & Tracie had Gary's parents, us and his other brothers Eric & Craig there, as well as Tracies dad. When we arrived Daniel started bawling before we even crossed the street. There is something about Craig and Russell that just terrifies him. It could be that they are tall, or that Craig is usally dressed in black... but we really can't figure it out and don't understand the reaction. They are really nice to him, especially Russell. Oh well. Hopefully he'll grow out of it.
At Russ & Tracies we had dinner, decorated cookies & had a FHE-sort of thing, telling about Christmas symbols and traditions from around the world. Then the kids got to open one or two gifts. Our boys each received a little stuffed animal, but Daniel was far more interested in his cousins jammies and cars. He opened his penguin, said "thank you" and handed it back to me! Jackson like his giraffe though. I guess one out of two isn't bad. By the end of the night both boys were exhausted and their behavior showed it. We headed home and, after telling them the Christmas story again and placing baby Jesus in the Nativity's manger, we put them to bed.
Christmas morning was fun. Gary woke up at 6am to read the paper and play with his new "toy" - a router. No, not a computer router. A router as in a woodworking tool. The boys and I got up around 7:30. Sitting in the front room when I got up was a large box (for me!) that hadn't been there the night before. What it was was a stroller I had asked for, that he had bought and had shipped to his parents so I wouldn't see it. What a sweet (sneaky!) guy! When we woke the boys up Daniel had a really hard time getting out of bed. He was so tired! Jack was awake, but he mostly wanted to eat. Once we got Daniel out of bed he toddled into the living room and immediately went to his easel. He really liked it and started chattering happily. Then he saw Jacks tower of blocks and says "Pretty Neat!" That was the choice phrase of his morning. It was so cute. He really enjoyed opening his sock and his gifts. After he took the wrapping paper off the first one he though he had to throw it away in the kitchen garbage. He made a couple of back and forth trips until we brought out a garbage bag for his paper. Jackson gave Daniel a dinosaur book and a set of plastic dinosaurs. I forget what Daniel gave Jack - I think it was laughing rolling ball toy. The hot wheels cars were a big hit with Daniel, as were the new crayons. Jackson really liked the wrapping paper.
Midway through the gifts we put Jackson down for a nap. We got him up too early for his liking and he was really grumpy and tired. We finished up opening our gifts and played with Dnaiel for a while, then decided that instead of having our breakfast here at home we would share it with Gary's parents & Eric. So we packed up all of the ingredients for pancakes, sausage and eggs, dressed the boys & headed to Granny and Opas early. At Garys parents we had breakfast and visited, then we opened gifts when Craig got there. Daniel received two "fry cards" (gift cards to McDonalds). When we told them what they were he was so excited! He went around and showed everyone his fry cards. He wouldn't let go of them, even for Mama to put them in a safe place, for quite a while. They were definitely a huge hit! Goes to show how well his Aunt Cathy & Uncle Eric know him. Gary and I got a gift card to Red Lobster from Cathy. I can't wait to use it. Mmmm! Both of the boys got a couple of toys. Daniel was more interested in Jacks toys and Jack was more interested in Dans, so they swapped for a bit. The exceptions were the construction vehicles Dan got from Eric - he wasn't sharing those! After opening gifts we sat and visited for a while, ate lunch, Gary & Dan & Jack took naps, and I played a brain teaser Gary's mom had gotten for Christmas - Tantrix. As we were getting ready to leave Russell & his family came so we stayed a little longer & visited with them. Then we were off to Grandma & Grandpa Johnsons.
We had dinner at my parents with them, Shelly & Jeff, Tyler and Susan, followed by opening gifts. Daniel got a new Little People set from his grandparents and Jackson got the Amazing Animals train. Everyone received nice gifts and had a great time. It was a great Christmas for all.
Daniel and Jack have spent the past week playing with their new toys. Jackson tried twice to eat Dans chalk for his easel, so we had to put that out of reach. Dan loves playing with his new Little People Pre-School, and Jackson his having lots of fun playing in the toy organizer we put in their room. I am glad to see they had a happy Christmas.