Hey, it’s 2016!

We had a very enjoyable Christmas break. Two weeks off of school which meant staying up later than usual and sleeping in too.

We have always spent Christmas Eve in Gresham with my in-laws. Since our move to the country my in-laws are being very flexible for us. This year it was December 23 at their house.

My in-laws raised two boys so they are very skilled at buying presents for our boys. This years theme was a dichotomy. Guns and Art. All the way around.

My in-laws are people who enjoy art. My father-in-law draws very nicely and my mother-in-law re-discovered coloring when her grandsons were born and has stuck with it. We bought them some coloring books and they bought the boys more art supplies.

The boys (“fully grown” and still growing) all received guns. Michael and his brother got  bb guns. Michael is keeping it in the barn in the hopes that he will see the mole who is tearing apart our pasture and be able to shoot it.

The “still growing boys” received more air soft guns. Do you know that name is false advertising? Getting hit by an air soft bb is anything but soft.

We decided to dress Santa up in the tactical vest and gun Nicholas received.

It looks like a Wes Craven Santa.

We always have tons of fun and great food at my in-laws.

Christmas morning was spent at home. We made a change this year. Instead of putting name tags on gifts we left them off. Each person’s gifts were wrapped in one kind of  paper. A piece of that paper was in the bottom of their stocking. Nobody knew for certain which presents were theirs. I wrapped everyone’s presents so I knew. It was fun but it made a lot of work for me because I did all the wrapping. Plus I couldn’t let anyone see me wrapping.

Very thoughtful gifts were exchanged. At the end multiple boxes with the same wrapping paper were left. Nobody had that paper in their stocking. It didn’t take the boys long to figure out those were gifts for them to share. They got the surprise of their life when they opened the Play Station 4 with the Star Wars Battlefront game.

It was just this past year we even allowed any non-educational video games and only if they get an A or a B in their math work for that day. A= 20 minutes B= 10 min. This is a big treat and it will need to be monitored. I think we agreed to one hour on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Christmas dinner is always spent at my sister’s house with my side of the family.

There is lots of fun and kidding around. My sister with her two teenage girls and me with my two boys. My first born is the storm trooper.

This time it was mostly about Star Wars. Nicholas also got another air soft gun.

My nieces are hilarious (they get that from me), and there is always a lot of laughter and new teen speak to learn.

I love all the family time during Christmas. I have such great family, both of origin and by marriage. Although we are not as near as we once were I am so grateful we can still spend time together.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that 2016 has started off nicely.
Hugs,
Karen