Counting Our Blessings: Christmas 2012

Our Christmas this year was a little crazy due to our adoption falling apart and John Whitten getting really sick right before and right after the holidays. On Christmas Eve we went to my grandmother's house for lunch and the kids had a blast opening presents and playing with their news toys together. Lillian was SO excited to get an American Girl doll-McKenna- and John Whitten squealed when opened up his newest car ramp toy. My Grandmother Bev always goes above and beyond to make Christmas eve a really special time for our family. This year her she even did a cake walk(cupcakes and cookies) for the kids. The grown ups even enjoyed playing. I am so thankful for all that she does.

Christmas morning at the Hays home was a lot of fun. Lillian woke up at 7:00, but Shaun and I would not let her open up her presents until John Whitten woke up. We wanted them to do it together. She was so patient and really did not mind waiting an hour until John Whitten woke up. They were both so excited about their toys. Lillian's "big" gifts were a vanity and her leap pad. Although, her favorite gift was probably her make up set that she got from John Whitten. John Whitten's big gift was a Strider Bike(he has gotten pretty good with it). He also got a bunch of little things, but really loved his farm and his Lego's. Every year Alli and I alternate hosting Christmas morning brunch every year and this year it was my turn. So everyone came over to our house for brunch and the kids got to exchange gifts with each other. We all had fun and enjoyed spending time together as a family celebrating the birth of Christ!

After everyone left we quickly got John Whitten down for his nap so that he could be rested up for round two of Christmas day fun at MeMe and Papa's house. He much have been really tired, because we had to wake him up after three and half hours so that we could actually leave. His sleepy little head was holding up the show! We had a lot of fun opening presents, spending time with cousins and of course eating yummy food! We left pretty quickly because the weather was acting crazy and I was not feeling all that great(we were hit hard with yucky bugs through out the holidays). Lillian's favorite gift was her "breakable tea set" from MeMe and Papa. We have had about a million tea parties since Christmas. John Whitten's favorite present was hands down his tball set. He loves anything to do with a ball and adding a bat to it made it all that much more fun. He plays with it every day!

our attempts at a kid group pic...