Every year we spend Christmas Eve with Chris' dad (Papa)'s family in Chico. After a late start, we arrived in Chico before dinner. After quick hello's and some rearranging we headed to the P'family's house for dinner. (The "P" family are cousin's who have a large enough house to contain our growing clan ;) )
After a lovely dinner, we opened presents with all our extended cousins. A great time was had by all. Junior was quite a charmer. While he did not find that mommy holding little Miss Pollyanna (the infant in the picture) as a good thing. After a few attempts to pull her out of mom's arms, he found others to play with. (He DID give her a few "pets" on the back - hey it was a term he understood!)
Christmas Day
Christmas Morning - Take 1: Junior woke up at 5am - and since none of the rest of the family that was here was ready to get up, he went back to bed with Mom and Dad! Not a creature stirred untill about 630am when we heard Grammie get up. After Grammie, Papa, Dad and Mom where up (and Junior had suffeciently harrassed all four dogs) Junior got to open his stocking. In his stocking he found Santa left him 2 books (with wheels on them), a slinky and 2 wooden cars. We then hot tubbed for a while then got ready for Aunt Leslie, Uncle JJ and the kids to arrive. After a mad house of opening gifts, Papa cooked a wonderful breakfast of hashbrowns, sausage, eggs AND waffles! I was a bad mom this year and didn't take pictures of anyone opening gifts. Afterwards, we got ready to head to my mom's.
Christmas Morning - Take 2: We arrived at my mom's house to a tree filled with presents for everyone. I think even my brothers would admit that Junior made out very well. Juniors favorite gift of the morning (by far) is in the video below. Thank You oh so much from Mommy to a certain Uncle Ian for the drum. I am sure that we will hear alot of music coming from it.
Christmas Night: We enjoyed a wonderful turkey AND ham dinner with all the fixings with almost the entire "A" Clan (Grammie J's side) plus my mom and Uncle Ian. Junior even got to sit at the table in his own chair with out a booster seat. Junior loved the cresent rolls and entertaining everyone at the table. After dinner, my mom (Nona) and Uncle Ian had to leave due to other plans. The rest of the family adjurned to the living room for the next round of present madness. This living room seems to get smaller every year - when i joined the family almost 12 years ago, we all fit in it just fine... kids grow and people have been added. It's amazing how quickly it all changes.
After presents we enjoyed dessert of homemade apple pie, pumpkin pie and left over carrot cake from Chris' party. Junior had a great time playing with everyone. He loves his cousins very much - which is evidenced by the fact he will go to the two older ones and asked to be picked up (and carried everywhere! Justin and Megan really do spoil him.)
Today, Uncle Will, Aunt Connie and cousin Willam (aka W3) arrive from LA. There are plans for Karaoke for the adults and Megan babysitting the two little boys at Aunt Kathy's. (We shall see how that goes!) And another gift exchange with them later this week! (which will be Christmas #5)
All in all, our Christmas was a wonderful one. We where very fortunate to be able to spend this time with family and friends. The Chaos household hopes that you and yours where able to have just as wonderful time (and continue to have) as we have!
