Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas! Hands down this was the best Christmas ever! It was so fun to see Kayla experience all the fun things that this season brings. We started our fun a week early when we went to Grandma and Grandpa Evans' for a little Christmas party.

Our little family of 3 1/2

And the Jones family

(I blame the hectic time of opening presents because I forgot to take a picture of Terry and Craig)

Makayla got spoiled with a lot of gifts. At first she didn't know what to do, but soon she figured out that something was under all that paper.

Grandma and Grandpa Evans got Makayla a little school bus walker, and she LOVES it! Makayla is learning how to walk, so this is the perfect gift to help her.

She also got a dish set, but Makayla apparently thinks it is a hat.

Terry and Craig got us a freezer. Perfect gift for us! We have been thinking about getting one for a while.

What is that behind Tracy and Jeremy's freezer? Yep, Kayla's head. I chuckle every time I see this picture.

The week leading up to Christmas was the longest week. Tyler and I both had to work the whole week. Do you know how hard it is to keep 8th and 9th graders (and a very excited teacher) under control until December 23rd?

But finally Christmas Eve arrived.

On Christmas Eve we went to the Collard party. This year we decided to just stay at one party. It was getting too hard to drive back and forth between my parents' house and Tyler's parent's house. It was a little sad to miss my family's Christmas Eve, but we had fun with all the Collard traditions.  

Makayla was all ready for the festivities to begin! Isn't her outfit cute? I love having a little girl to dress up!

She managed to keep her bow on for a few hours.

After dinner we had the family talent show. Makayla showed off her walking skills with her new toy and Carson and Colton sang some songs. Really no one in the family has any talent but Tyler, so he played the accordion.

Then we moved on to Nuerdeleun in the street. This year Makayla got to lead everyone in the dancing in the street. I think this picture proves how much she loved it.

Then we came in and had the right/left game and opened presents. Makayla got a toy purse and a doll from Rico. 

She loved her gifts!

We finally headed home around 10:00 and went to bed hoping Santa would come.

We were up bright and early on Christmas morning (sleeping in is a thing of the past with kids). We headed down to see if Santa came... and did he ever! He brought Makayla a lot of fun toys and books.

Our Christmas tree was full of gifts underneath.

We spent forever opening toys and playing with them. It was so much fun to see Makayla get so excited about the toys. I think this was my favorite part of the whole day.

After a few presents she finally got the hang of how to rip the paper.

Even though she got a bunch of new toys, Makayla's favorite gift might have been a new blankie. She immediately stuck the corner of it in her mouth and was content the rest of the time.

You know how you always hear parents complain that the kids got a whole bunch of gifts and had more fun playing with the boxes and wrapping paper? We felt the same way.

After opening presents, we had our traditional gooey buns, which I burned again this year. You would think I would learn after last year, but I didn't. We also had to take our "traditional" family picture in front of our tree.

We spent Christmas day at my parent's house. Where Makayla got spoiled again with presents.

Can you see her little tongue sticking out? So cute!

Makayla got "Elefun" and a learning time dog. She LOVED both of her gifts!!

Here's Ryan, Preston, Gage, and Brayden.

And Darren, Meg, Cole, Hannah, Maddie, and Sadie. Their catch phrase this year was "nice," which they were saying as we took this picture (I think it was a family inside joke, which none of the rest of us really understood).

I feel so bad, but I forgot to take a picture of my parents and my Grandma Draper and Karen.

We had so much fun eating, talking, and playing with all the kids' new toys. Sadie got a new camera for Christmas and she liked taking pictures of Makayla.

After my family party, we headed over for the last part of the Evans' party where we got spoiled yet again with more presents. I must have been worn out, because I only took one picture at this party.

Christmas 2011 was really the best Christmas yet. I absolutely love spending time with our families and it was so much fun to watch Kayla experience all the fun traditions. I can't wait until next year when we will have our little man to celebrate with us!