Oh, how I love this time of year. This year was so much fun. We got to spend Christmas eve at Chads Mom and Dads this year. We had the traditional steak, potatoes, and salad dinner... YUMMY. Then us sisters and sister-in-laws preformed a silly jump rope routine. We had the idea months back, and have been planning for it ever since. We laughed a lot, and even got a bit of exercise out of it... so it was well worth being whipped with the rope too many times, a few carpet burns, and the fact that we made fouls out of ourselves. Thanks Maria for teaching us a little about the sport!
The kids acted out the Christmas story a bunch of times, while Steve read the story from the bible. We played lots of games, and had a great Christmas Eve.
Christmas morning at our house was better and more fun than I could have hoped for. Porter and Trace loved everything Santa brought them, and had fun watching each other open everything, since they will be playing with all the new stuff together. Porter got a bunch of football stuff: Shoulder pads, pants, and pads, A Derron Williams jersey, DS game, Paperoni (a art project thing), and tons of other little things. Trace got his own DS, a scooter, a glow dome, a DS game, and lots of other little things too. Roc got a basketball hoop, and some fun little toys. *Chad and i decided not to do gifts for each other this year. My mom and dad came over early Christmas morning, and it was so great to have them there!
After all of the opening at our house, we headed back over to Grandpa Hansen's for lots more fun. There is nothing quite like Christmas at the Hansen's. Steve loves shopping for gifts, and is REALLY good at it. He always thinks of the perfect ideas for everyone. This year he asked for a few ideas from Chad for me... Chad told him I would really like a picnic table for outside. Steve just laughed at him, and told him he would have to do better, because he had that one already. So Chad said maybe a Tripod, and again that was a wasted idea, because that had already been bought too! He watches through the year and notices what we could use! I also got some yummy perfume, a couple of Christmas decorations, and a great glass nail file. Chad got his back packing tent, and a ton of cool camping stuff. The kids all got great things from Grandpa too. Porter got a little laptop, Trace got a huge dinosaur that growls when you pet it, and Roc got a fun interactive car game. He also found this awesome picture of four little boys dressed up as missionaries for the kids room. We draw names for all the siblings, and cousins, and this year Maria and i got each other. She surprised me with THREE cake platters, and a cool glass container! Now I'm ready for a party.
After a couple hours of presents at the Hansen's we headed over to my house... Finally home for Christmas! Christmas has always been so special at my moms. There is nothing quite like being there on Christmas day. She had a yummy ham lunch for us, and the best cake for dessert. Our traditional Christmas Eve dinner is Cheesy potato soup, and since we didn't eat any for Christmas Eve, she sent us home with some for leftovers! My mom and Dad surprised us with tickets to Broadways "THE LION KING"!!! I can't wait until August. Porter got a cool Duck Hunting game, Trace go a new BIKE!, and Roc got his favorite present of the year... a little tyke car. He gets in and out of it all day long! Families rock, and I think mine and chads are the best!
*Chad majorly broke the "no presents for each other" rule this year. My camera broke a few months ago, so I started a small saving plan for new one. My plan was going to take a long time, and Chad knew I really wanted one, so he sold a bunch of his things, and used his Christmas bonus from work and surprised me with an awesome new camera!!! What a guy. Love you babe. THANKS!
