Christmas Eve

For as long as I can remember, we have spent Christmas Eve at my grandparents house. We enjoy snacky foods and hanging out visiting and watching the kids entertain us. And each year, Santa makes a visit. This year, the boys were just giddy waiting for Santa to get there. Lance just knew that he was going to come anytime - he kept a close eye on the front door all evening until he arrived.

Here the boys are visitng with Santa as he just arrived - he was telling them that he had to park his sled and reindeer at the Neosho airport and borrow a truck to get out the farm. (The boys couldn't figure out why Santa drove up in truck).
When it was Grayson's turn to set on Santa's lap, he made himself comfortable and talked and talked. I think he was planning on sitting there for a while and just visiting.

Still talking.......

Lancer's turn - he was trying to get in a few last minute request of things

he didn't receive at our house :-)

Santa brought the boys a special gift

Bike helemts! He forgot to leave them at our house with the bikes ;-)

GG and Papa with Santa

Mimi with SantaUncle Blake and his favorie nephews

Finally - it was time to unwrap presents!

We were blessed with another wonderful Christmas - it was nice to have some family time and enjoy each other for a few hours, it doesn't happen often enough!

Santa!

At our house, Santa visits our us the night before Christmas Eve. We wake up on Christmas Eve and Santa has already made his visit to our house. Santa does this because he knows that we have to leave on the afternoon of Christmas Eve to travel to Missouri to celebrate with our family.

Here are the boys getting their cookies ready for Santa. They both were SO, SO excited for Christmas this year - they were so much fun this and so cute to watch, they were bursting with excitement. I loved it!

Lance thought that Santa needed his red, curly straw to drink his milk with. He even left him a note telling him that he could keep the straw - so sweet!

After the boys got their cookies ready, Matt read the Christmas story from the Bible. This is a tradition that Matt has carried on from his family. It is so sweet and a great reminder why we are celebrating this special holiday.

Santa came! Lance was the first one up this year at 5:30am and boy was he excited! He came running in our room yelling Santa came! He came to my side of the bed and said Mom, Santa came and brought me a bike, WITH a kick stand! Love that boy!

Santa brought the boys matching Razorback uniforms - they both loved them! Now they both have football uniforms for their games against Daddy!

We had to give our new uniforms a test run.....look good!

We are blessed beyond measure - so thankful to celebrate the birth of our Savior! It was a great Christmas!

Christmas Goodies

The first day of Christmas break, we took full advantage and loaded up and headed to Joplin and Neosho for some Christmas goodies! Our first stop was in Neosho to pick up Mimi and Nana and then we were off to Joplin to visit the Candy House! One of my favorite holiday memories as a child was going to the Candy House with my Grandma and looking at all the wonderful handmade chocolates and candy - and of course she would load up on treats for everyone while we were there. I hope to make this trip an annual tradition with my boys - it was special to me and my brother gowing up and even more special now that my Grandma is no longer with us, I know that she would love that I am passing this tradition down to my boys.

Our boys have huge sweet toothes! Not sure where that came from (from me) but they love them some chocolate and candy! So this trip was right up their alley!

They have windows over looking where they make all their candies - Lance enjoyed watching them. The day we were there they were making chocolate suckers - yummm!

Grayson loving all the candy that was surrounding him!
Picking out goodies with Nana

Enjoying their treats in the car!

After we finished up at the Candy House, we headed back to Neosho. Our good friend Gabby came over to make cookies with Mimi and the boys joined in on the fun. Gabby has been coming over to my parents house every year since she was 2 to make Christmas cookies - I know my Mom enjoys this tradition each year and was excited to get the boys in on the fun too.

Gabby working hard deocorating her cookies

Lookin good!

Lance with some of his cookies

Mimi and her buddy's

(Lucy - the dog - trying to sneak in a bite)

Grayson wasn't into making cookies as much,

this is what he did while we baked cookies.

Gabby and Lance assigned themselves to dish washing duty - works for me!

The next day, we made cookies at our house for Santa. Lance, once again, was excited to make cookies! He and Grayson were my little helpers - they started off by un-wrapping the kisses for the cookies.

The goodies are definately one of our favorite things about Christmas - we have a lot of fun making some fun memories!

Weekend Before Christmas

The weekend prior to Christmas was pretty low key - we started our morning out with a new breakfast receipe that I found on Pinterest. The boys helped me make it and it turned out really yummy and fun since the boys helped out.

Here is a picture of bacon egg and cheese biscuit/muffins.

My guys being silly at the breakfast table
After breakfast was over, the boys headed out to get some football time in.

They were pleasantly surprised when they looked up and saw Santa coming down the road on a firetruck! I think it seriously was Grayson's dream come true - Santa on a firetruck, coming to his house AND he brought candy. Perfect!

I love that our community fire department does this each year for the kids - it is so sweet and the boys LOVE it!