Tom finally got his Christmas bonus on the Friday before Christmas. We spent Saturday watching the boys basketball games in Warsaw and then off to shop in Quincy. I had ordered as much as I could from Amazon earlier in the week but we still had most of the kids shopping to do. Thank goodness that Quincy still has a K-Mart and Shopko! We avoid shopping at Evil Mart as much as is humanly possible. We were able to pick up almost everything we needed for the kids on that one trip. WHEW! I was left with needing one last gift for Karly. I did end up at Evil Mart on Monday to finish that up.
So with the shopping for our immediate family done, we were able to enjoy our family Christmas tradition on Monday night. We have, for years, driven through McDonald’s for supper and eat while we drive twice through the light display at Rand Park in Keokuk. The kids, even the teens, look forward to this. Tom and I look forward to it, too. We always have a great time trying to spot old favorites and new displays.
After our tour, we head home to set out cookies and milk and usher the younger ones to bed. We have always had to make a phone call to Santa to arrange the day that we will be celebrating. Santa came the Monday night before Christmas this year. His elves were up until the wee hours of the morning wrapping and getting things ready. And it seemed like we had just laid our heads on our pillows when we heard feet on the stairs. My clock said 4:40am and I was too tired to call them back. They let us sleep until 8:00am. Jasmine made coffee and we dragged ourselves out of bed to open gifts.
They had all of the gifts already sorted out and Tom and I were told where to sit. Coffee was served and the present opening began.
Clint bought his sisters all a present since he has a job. Melina was especially appreciative of her tye-dye soccer ball!
My tweener was wanting makeup. So we got her some to she can experiment with at home. She is only allowed to wear lipgloss and nail polish away from home.
Jasmine is a real goofball! Gotta love that she doesn’t care what people think when she is being goofy.
Clint loves the Christian rock band, Skillet. He was so happy that we found him one of their cd’s.
Here I am, in all of my just out of bed glory, checking out my new coffee maker. It is BIG, programmable, has a permanent filter and an interrupt function. I love it!
Melina was nonstop talking about Martian Matter. We caved and it has been the best gift she got! Its is a blast!
Doubly goofy and showing her new headphones.
Trying on his annual Cubs hat.
I absolutely could not resist getting Karly this shirt! I would have gotten all of the girls a shirt like this if I could find their sizes.
Showing her necklace that my BFF Cass made. (Cass makes custom jewelery and it is GORGEOUS!)
Tom insists that we don’t get him any gifts every year. And every year we get him gifts anyway.
All the kids got new jammie pants. I love Clint’s plaid.
With the gifts all unwrapped and a winter storm heading our way and already dumping snow on Sycamore, we made fast tracks to get packed and on the road. We dropped Guinness off at the kennel and were on our way! Of course, things were forgotten in our haste. Important things like any pants for Tom. Good thing he got jeans from his folks for Christmas! We made our trip in good time and safely despite the snow covered roads.
