Merry Christmas... in February

Apparently my time management skills are lacking big time, still.
On Christmas morning I had to work 5-12:30, so I exited the house after strategically placing the bag of Santa gifts, while the house was silent and still.

When I got off I went to mom and dad's  to pick up Jayna.  Then we headed home to open gifts.  And boy did we open gifts!  The kids were royally spoiled, all four of our kids!  And for that another clear season of thankfulness.  God has provided as we have doubled in size.

stocking were hung on the dresser with care... Angela, Jayna, Anthony, Jayla and the cats too

Of course it had to begin with a bang when Alisa accidentally bopped Jayla in the face and tears flowed.  But still, here is our before picture---1:30pm we began the gift opening chaos at home!

poor Jayla and her fat lip

one of my fav was Ang's personalized mug

Everything Angela wanted  and asked for was basically clothes

Her big gift was a high quality hair straightener

Anthony' has loved his first good quality watch and his new wimpy kid book he kept reading instead of opening gifts

Anthony's big gift was I restored one of my older bikes; a Raleigh that's 15 years old beats a brand new big box store bike

.

Jayla's big gift was a blessing our church friends got her!  The corner bottom photo is Jayla telling Marko off for calling frozen Pocohantas--- repeatedly

Jayna got a nice variety of art supplies, a few clothes too

she got the midlevel gifts instead of a big gift; a pogo stick, chair and electric pencil sharpener

After opening gifts the kids had a brief stretch to play before it was time to go to Grandma Pam's to do the next to last round of Christmas.

Daddy and his kiddos all gifted out!

the girls all got new bath towel robes and all the kids got new slippers and electric blankets... Jayla's blanket isn't electric because 4 seems young for that.

 It is very rare we see Marko's brother or the sister in-laws so it was nice seeing them.  Unfortunately his brother and one sis in law and son didn't arrive for several hours after the scheduled time but we made the most of the time we had.

Grandma Pam, as always outdid herself, too much food, too many gifts <3

Anthony was thrilled with 2 new kideo games and a remote control plane, Jayla loved her microscope and video recorder, Jayla got lots of frozen goodness and Ang got some clothes and scarves

A miracle, these little momma's girls warmed up to Marko--- he got a high five and a hug!

ops we may have made Momma tear up with her new photos of her grandbabes...And the adult kids got some gifts too!

About 10 we left Momma's and Marko and Ang headed home while the rest went to pick up Corey from work.  Bummer he had to work a 12 hour shift, but a job is certainly a blessing.  So, I had separated all Jayla's gifts so she could open the ones Cory and Alisa bought her once Cory was home. 

Jayna's sketchbook, Anthony;s hat, Angela's nails, Beth's mug

And just like that our day had come to a close.  And what an eventful family filled few days it was!

The cake we made Christmas Eve

 And life continued, as normal, with a 5am shift on the 26th... the one and only day the cats could enjoy the tree.  Because as soon as I got off on the 26th I took the tree down!

Sampson and Phoenix