New Year's Eve

 This is Elli holding Chris and Julie's baby Maverick.
We decided to go to the Moran's for the day.  ALL of them were home, even Jenny from China! 

 Micah found this Bengals jersey to wear and couldn't believe it!  He also had on football gear!

 I got some snuggle time with Grant. He loves me more than any of my other nieces and nephews:)

 We enjoyed a meal together and lots of talking, playing, and memory sharing.  Grandma Donough has been living with Cindy since Larry got sick.  It was good to see her too.

Before we left, we made sure to sing some Christmas songs and hymns.  I love the harmony that happens when they sing together.  So much musical talent in this family.
Micah was playing and got his two front teeth knocked loose.  I am sure they will fall out soon.  I was so sad and was crying.  I know it is a bit over the top, but it is a big deal to get your two front teeth knocked out. 
We had a great day.

Sunday, Dec 30

 After church, we came home to prepare for the next round of visitors.  Donald, Matthew, Alicia, Quinn, Ann and Carl came over for the afternoon.

 We had a great visit.

Lots of good discussions and fun.  It has been a full couple of weeks with family.

Christmas break fun

 We have spent quite a bit of time together.  Grant is so sweet and loves his Aunt Wordy!

Before Becca and Devin left, Elli and Becca had a chance to do their nails and a face mask:)  Elli loves these things and loves doing them with her aunts.
We enjoyed some relaxing days and even some time just the four of us.
Becca's parents came down for a day. 
Larry and Linda went with Kyle to Mansfield to get Grandma's piano.  We all went to their house to unload it and then went to Fazoli's for dinner.  Micah spent the night with Liam.
Grandma had her back surgery on Dec 26.

Christmas Day

 Elli woke up feeling so much better! They were ready to open gifts!

 She got the game Taca, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza:)

 Also some books and the Incredibles 2 movie.

 Micah got a Bible carry case, some books including one about a shark where you could build it.

 She got a new set of towels.

 With elephants on them.

 This is her surprise face when she saw she also got some Harry Potter Legos.  She said no legos this year but was so excited about this gift!

 Micah got some clothes, a robe, and slippers.  He also has a space ship lego set here and some books.  he loves his nature book.

 He couldn't believe he got Bengals jersey and pants!

 Her new clothes. She picked out some of them, but I threw in a few surprises as well:)

 New robe and slippers.

 This is the box with the football helmet and football in it!  He is so excited:)

 The Wolfs actually got a football for him because he asked for it so often.  When I told them we already had one for him, they took it back.  He is ready to play!

 Brent got a new grease gun, slippers, jeans, a belt, and a new shirt.  I was also there and got a hot glue gun from Elli.  Brent got me a candle on Sunday when we ran to the mall after church.

 He couldn't wait to get dressed in all his new stuff, football stuff that is:)

 Devin was just as excited about Elli's new legos as she was.  They started building them and even put on a harry Potter Movie.

 We forgot about stockings!  Micah's had a new fox, bath bombs, and a flashlight.

 Elli's stocking had a flashlight, a new coffee cup, and spa stuff.

 This is what the day looked like.

 We had Elli take our picture.  Again, it is funny to be in front of a different fireplace.

 Our tiny tree looks even tinier now!

 Everyone came over for a bit.  Linda and Larry enjoyed opening gifts with us.  Grant enjoyed posing for pictures as well.

 I love this picture of all the boys in the family. 

 Christmas lunch!  We had cinamon rolls for breakfast then everyone came here for Christmas meal.

 That evening, we went to Lance and Lana's.  We let the kids watch a show for a bit after we ate dinner.

 Elli got a new book and some money.  Micah got another football, but a soft one this time.

 We had some gift opening:)  I actually went to the hospital to see grandma.  She is having a surgery to put some cement in her spine to help her broken vertebra.  I feel sad for her being in the hospital on Christmas Day.  I later joined everyone at Lance and Lana's where we enjoyed some tomato soup made by Lana from scratch.  Yummy!

 This is a fun picture with Nana and Grandpa and their grandkids, minus Jenna's.  With Larry having cancer, we don't know how many more Christmas's we will have with him.  Though no one is saying it, we all feel it.  Making memories and good times are at the forefront of everyone's mind.

We got this very warm shirt for Larry.  He is always saying he is cold, wears his long underwear under everything, so this was a great gift!
We had a good day.

Christmas Eve

These pictures are all out of order but this is all of Christmas Eve.

 The kids were opening presents as is our tradition for Christmas Eve.  They usually open gifts from each other, then a couple from us.  These pjs were the first gift.  They changed into them then opened a couple more.

 Micah wrapped up some of the special things he got from his Christmas party at school for Elli.

 She got him some hot wheels.

 These cuties are very special.  We spent some time before bed talking about the giving of gifts at Christmas and that we have been given the most amazing gift of all in Jesus.

 Goof balls.

 When everyone went to bed, I got out all the gifts for the next morning.  I love this moment.

 Stockings all stuffed with gum, a flashlight for everyone, and other goodies.

 The kids will be very excited.

 Elli woke up sick and started throwing up at 9:00 this morning, so we stayed home while everyone else went to Kyle and Meg's for dinner before the Christmas Eve service at PPC.

 These guys enjoyed playing together.

 It is fun having Becca and Devin be part of the festivities.

 They all went to the PPC service since Brent really wanted to sing in the choir.

 It was a candle light service.  I was sad to miss, but Elli was so sick.  We were watching Christmas movies until at 6:30 after Elli tried to get a shower, she said she was too sick and then went to bed.  So, I watched Christmas movies by myself, finished meal prep, folded laundry and waited for everyone to get home.

 Lilli and Rayna with Nana.

When they got home from the service, Elli woke up saying she felt better and wanted to open presents. 
They also got the traditional Christmas ornament, Elli a volleyball and Micah a ninja and a family game which was a Mickey Mouse puzzle this year.
It was a different kind of Christmas Eve for me, but I was happy it was relaxing, even if it was for a different reason, Elli being sick.