Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we always go to my Mom's for lunch with my Brothers and their families. We were so excited this Christmas that we wanted to open presents first. We usually take a vote to see if we eat first or open presents first. Presents won this year! 

James opening his first present.

 Jake opening his first present

 Uncle John and Sabrina bought James a Leapster and he LOVED it. Started playing it right away! 

 Jake got a leapfrog toy as well and he loved it too!

 James was also SO excited when he got a CARS guitar from Nino, Nina, and kids. It was something he really wanted!

 Jake got a guitar too, he was playing it here...

Sammy, Andi, Brianna, Alex, Sabrina. In their present opening positions.

After everyone thought presents were over, I said I had a few special things to give out. After my Dad passed away we didn't receive anything of his. We had no sentimental family heirlooms. I contacted his wife and asked if she could send some things that would be special for us to have. She did, but Jimmy and John did not know. Jimmy always wanted this knife that our Great-Grandfather, who was a blacksmith had made. It was the only thing he wanted. John I gave our Dad's bible because he is really into reading the bible and I thought it would be appropriate for him to have. When I handed them two gifts they were so confused. John asked if they should open them together, and they did. John was much faster in opening his and was really surprised, their is an inscription on the inside that said, 

To Jim, Love Mom and Dad. December 25, 1955. 

Jimmy's box was taped so it was harder to open, he lifted it a little without breaking the tape, John says, "It's the knife." Then Jimmy lived it again to see and immediately turned around to grab a kleenex. It was such an emotional time, we were all teared up. I hugged him and he said to me, "This is too much right now." Which made me cry even more. I was so happy they were surprised and it was one of the best gift givings I have done! 

After the emotions were settled from those gifts and everyone thought we were done again, I said that Craig and I had another special gift! 

We handed Brianna a little box, she was quite perplexed. She unwrapped it and it was a Tiffany's Box, she said she didn't think it was Tiffany's jewelry but she had no idea what is was! She opens it, looks inside and sees a car key with the word Jeep on it! She says, "OMG", starts shaking her hands, jumps up starts crying and hugs me and then Craig. We start crying again! I tell her it's outside! So we all run out to see. She was so excited and SO surprised! It was great! I wish I had video, but of course my camera is full when it is her turn! :( 

I always wanted to put a big read bow on a car! That was a task! The dealership ran out of bows so they told us they would buy us one at Michaels, we didn't want to wait so we went ourselves. Well they didn't have red and I had to have red! So I took it to my Mom to make! Well it was too floppy, so Tom had to go to Home Depot to get red wire to glue on the inside of the ribbon! Thank goodness they got it all done Christmas morning! 

The girls all jumped in...

Taking off the ugly license plate, in her pretty dress.

Her first drive...

 Mr. Sweet Tooth

Jake and Sammy playing with sticky eyeballs. YUCK. Jake loved them!

 Just chillen

Playing with Uncle John

 Brianna and Andi

 The Girls

 Silly picture

 Family picture

 All dressed and ready for church 

 Funny faces

 Jake fell asleep not he way to church and slept all the way through, that was nice for us!

 Playing with Nonni's reindeer

 Playing with the Leapster again

 That night when we came home, I started to feel sick, sore throat, and just exhausted. It must have been from all the stress, excitement, anxiety of the gifts this year! It was the best Christmas I can think of, with all the emotions running high! 

Here is a video of the guys opening their presents. Don't mind the chaos of Jake screaming, hopefully you can hear the dialect! I stopped the camera when Jimmy started to turn around. You can see the emotion in his face. Awe.