Christmas morning was relaxing and fun... but I think everybody was really just looking forward to all the present-opening that afternoon! Once we all sat down and were ready for the big finale... Jeilene took it upon herself to be the 'gift distributor' and kick Christmas into overdrive!
There was obviously a lot more gifts for the kids than there were for the adults... so naturally, the kids went first and took turns opening their gifts from the family.
Not like Allen Jess had much of a choice in the matter... but I suppose that's one of the benefits of being apart of a big family: lots of presents!
"Oh please let it be a pony! ...please let it be a pony!"
Toys, new clothes and stuffed animals...
what more could a spoiled 3-month-old want?!
Since most of all our money was going to go towards the kids' gifts, we all agreed to save a little money and do a Secret Santa gift exchange this year. Names were drawn well in advance, Christmas lists were posted, the rules were strickly obeyed, and the secrets were well kept! Overall, the Secret Santa was lots of fun, and except for Joanna getting her faced smashed in and knocked to the ground by a present her Uncle was weilding around... it was a huge success!
Jei showing off her new purse and boots...
courtesy of Aunt Joanne!
Once all the secrets had been revealed...
there were still a couple more gifts left for the little ones.
And just when we all thought all the gift giving was over... "Grant" (Great Aunt) Helen surprised Ming with a present of her own: a bag of kitty treats!
But Ming wasn't the only Key-Den to open a Christmas present...
Bing opened one too and found his new favorite toy!
Christmas was over...
but the party was just getting started!
Being stuck inside of that stuffy house didn't last for long! Outside we went to enjoy the fantastic weather!
Nani & Gema enjoying a very Southern California Christmas outdoors!
After a dirty daiper, slobber, spit-up, and it just being too hot... it was finally time to say goodbye to the Santa suit! (Looks like Allen Jess was more interested in Anabella's game than posing for yet another picture!)
Don't ask me how... or why... but the next thing I knew the girls had made a conga line and were dancing around the backyard!
Why do I get the feeling alcohol was involved somehow!?!?
Poor Allen Jess was forced to tag along and brought up the rear... although his dance moves looked a heck of a lot better than his mother's did!
Apparently, Allen Jess liked it... for when the line suddenly dispersed and all the fun stopped, he wasn't too happy about it!
Once the sun disappeared over the mountains it got a tad bit chilly to be hanging outside... so we moved the party back indoors where the electronic devices took control while Nani just shook her head in disgust!
As Christmas day came to an end...
there were some still standing,
and there were some who weren't!
Despite not having the entire family at the house... Jeilene and I could not have had a better Christmas! It was quite possibly the anti-Christmas of last year for us. We truly felt blessed to have spent it with loved ones and sincerely thank all the family that showed up and made our Christmas so very special.
Although he probably won't remember it, this Christmas was very special... for not only was it Allen Jess's first, but it was also the first for our little family of three! He was such a good boy today and we were so proud and happy to see him smiling and happy on a day we know he's going to grow up to love just like his parents did! Jeilene, our sweet little Angel and I all hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family as we did with ours.
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