Christmas 2009 {Snapshots}

Can you tell I'm trying to finish up all of my 2009 posts?!? This blog book thing is really helping to keep me on track...at least at the very end of the year. So, to wrap up 2009, here are the {snapshots} of our Christmas celebrations!

Christmas Eve is always spent with Justin's family. Justin got off work early, so we hung out with his parents, brother, sister and the girls for the afternoon. Kim had made some salt dough (is that what it's called?) So everyone made ornaments. We decided it will be an annual tradition. Barrett had fun rolling the dough into balls and making "no-men." That evening all the extended McPherson family came over for the annual Mexican fiesta!

After that, the kids were more than ready to open presents. We were so excited to see what Barrett would be like opening presents for Christmas this year, and he was precious! He loved tearing into those gifts and got lots of FUN things. One of his favorites was a little magna-doodle board that makes car noises when you draw on it. He got lots of jammies, which he needed. Every time he opened clothes, he would squeal, squeeze them against his cheek and then toss them behind him.

We usually go to my parents house after we leave there on Christmas Eve, but this year both of my brothers were not going to be here until early evening on Christmas day. I was in a state of depression over it...I am 30, and this is the first time I wouldn't wake up on Christmas morning with my family!! I got over it though! With me and my brothers getting older, all being married now, and having kids...I knew this day would come. It was just sad.

So we stayed in our cozy little house that night, and Barrett woke up to Santa gifts on Christmas morning by our tree. Christmas day is also my mom's birthday, so we invited them over for breakfast and to watch Barrett get his gifts. I told my dad I would call him when Barrett got up, so they could come over before we let him out to see his Santa gifts. I told him he usually wakes up around 7:30. He must have missed the "I'll call you" part, because they were at our back door at 7:30am. We were still in bed, and Barrett was still snoozin' too. It worked out great though, because they got to be here when he got up (not till 8:30), and helped take video for me.

On Christmas evening around 5:30pm everyone arrived at my parents! I was so happy to have them all there. My older Brother and his family live in South Carolina, so I hadn't seen them since Brandon's wedding in August. It was sooo great to finally hold my nephew, Jones! Barrett loved the baby. He would say "baby Jones," and crawl up in my lap anytime I was holding him. I loved watching Barrett and his cousins, Emma and Lauren playing together. Make me sad they don't get to see each other often enough.

See my mom's cake up there!?! One of my friends (a mom from playgroup) has a cake business, Spread Thin: A Mother's Bakery. I called her up last minute to make a special cake for my mom. I drew up the circle design in photoshop, sent it off to her, and she did awesome! The cake was delicious...filled with raspberry filling! Yum-o!

At our family, the tradition has always been to pass out the gifts and then go around and open one at a time. I wasn't sure how Barrett would do with this, but he was pretty patient. He would play with his toys in between his turns to open. Uncle Bobby helped all the kids pass out the gifts. They did pretty good. He would tell Barrett who to take it to, and he usually got it right. We had to double-check our tags before we started opening tough...there were a few that Lauren took that had "Laura" on them. She would tell me, "No, that's my name." I love doing presents like this! It usually takes us a couple hours to open, but it's so fun to see what everyone gets. After months of shopping and wrapping, it's nice to get to watch others open the gifts you got for them. We got lots of great stuff. My favorite was a new camera bag from my mom and dad. It's a messenger-style bag with plenty of room for my camera with a lens on, and two additional lenses. Plus pockets for my keys, etc. It will be so nice to have on shoots!

On the 26th, Mamo and my Aunt's family came down for another Mexican dinner. The kids had a great time playing together. Barrett really liked Gannon...he followed him around everywhere. Mamo got to meet her newest grandson for the first time, and we opened a few more gifts.

Our last Christmas celebration was with the BFE kids out at Audra's house. We got together for muffins and cider, and so the kids could have their exchange. This year, since our children really don't need anything, we decided to give books. Barrett got a cute monster book from Hadley & Jillian. He had lots of fun playing with all of Lydia's new Christmas toys!

It was a wonderful Christmas, full of quality time with family and friends!
Wishing you all a Happy New Year...may 2010 be {sweet} to you!