a HILL of a good time.........: Here comes santa (part 2)

So the next tradition is to head to my parents house Christmas eve afternoon. We spend the evening eating yummy food (moms brisket and cheese potatoes) and having cold drinks with good company. My brother and his girlfriend Lisa were in town by this time so we couldn't wait to see them! My Meme also joined us this year!
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I bought this hat as a joke during a Charity tree shopping trip with Sarah. We were at Hancock Fabrics and thought it was hilarious. So when you by something this odd you put it on your two year old right?? He looks like he is "hating me with his eyes" to quote Sarah. However in all actuality he loved it and kept it on more than any other hat in a long time. Isn't he a cute little elf???

My dad purchased this very cool train (if you didn't know yet Chaz LOVES trains!!) it had Santa as the driver, blows smoke and sings a ton of cute songs. Chaz was immediately drawn to it and sat on the stool for the longest time staring at the train, telling us all about it and saying "All aboard!!"

One of his new things is to put all his toys when you are sitting an then wants to sit and play with you. It is fun but he puts A LOT of toys on you.. Lisa was such a good sport!

and then Chaz made Lisa "go nigh nigh" he thought they were sooooo funny!

This year we were forecasted to get snow Christmas eve night so the Hamlins came by to give Chaz his presents in case they were snowed in the next day. He got a very cool smart cycle (along with other things!) from them and for some reason all he wanted to do was lay on the box.. weird kid!

I told him if he stood in front of the tree with his hat I would give him PEZ.. Yep I am not ashamed or above bribes :)

Sitting with his Meme and Karlee

Another tradition on my side of the family is matching pjs -- usually the girls match each other and the boys match each other.. yes albeit a little cheesy it is probably my absolute FAVORITE tradition. We have had some great pjs over the years and a few laughable ones :)

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Below chaz is opening his.. hint: he was actually old enough to get matching ones this year!

Meme joins us for Christmas eve which is such a joy. We got here a Mr and Mrs Claus set (she lost them in the Wright Christmas party and really wanted them.. so i hunted them down) As soon as they were opened Chaz immediately grabbed them and took them.......

to the other Mr and Mrs Claus.. because why wouldn't you put all Mr and Mrs Claus deco together :) (check the killer pjs!)

after we put the little guy to bed it is tradition that my brother does not have his presents wrapped and brings out boxes with names on them for the girls to wrap. It is a little odd but hey we have been doing it for years! We think it is so funny and usually one or 2 presents end up with the wrong tag.. this year my dad got some small lounge pants intended to go to Lisa HA! Note the matching pjs :)

Daddy and Kyle.. There are those pjs again.. this year we all matched :)

One of the "rules" of mom and dad's house is that nobody can go into the "Santa" living room until we are told we can.. so we all convened in the media room until Dad told us it was ok.. oh course i had to go in early (first time EVER!) to set up my camera and get ready to take a picture of the little guy coming in to see all his toys. note the gloves on his hands.. they were part of the presents from the Hamlins. He loved them and woke up saying "i wont my goves" Look at the sheer excitement on this kids face.. now that is what Christmas morning is about...the kids!!!

He was headed to the fireplace which is were we usually sit.. anyways he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the bike. He said "Daddy-o. Wa is dat?" "Dat my bike?" "Santa bring me toys?"

Check the bed head!

He is just a smidge to short but loves the bike!

another toy from Santa (gloves still on!) a cool remote control crane. Same thing happened again.. he didn't want to open any other gifts.. just played with this for a good hour. But that was ok because us adults opened out presents and cooked breakfast while he sat and played..

the elf hat is back!

Showing me the stuff from his stocking. Yes, we get apples oranges and nuts amoung other things.

Playing with the crane with Gaga and Kyle

and with Daddy

Shane and Lisa

Me opening my new camera lens! Thanks Santa!!

Chaz opening his card from Gaga and Papa.

Our Christmas eve tradition is to hang all the "through the years" ornaments on the tree as a family. Some are in such bad condition you wouldn't want them on your tree for a month :) This usually takes place after Chaz goes to bed. So the next morning I held out his two new ones for him to hand.. an airplane and train with his name written on them.

helping Gaga open her present.

We found this really cool plane for Dad's collection..

I made my brother save this one for his last present. Ryan and I were so proud and actually bought something really fun and not practical

Yep that is right we bought him a remote control doom buggy!

Finally he starts to open the rest of his gifts. The hair is still rockin' by the way

He would pull out his clothes and say "cool" then through them on the ground.. Oh gotta love a 2 year old!

Showing Uncle Shane "diggers"

and we have to have a chill out moment for our milk..

He absolutely loved his "diggers" as he calls them. He finally learned one was a forklift which ended up being one of his favorites! Below he is telling Papa to "cut dit" he wanted it out of the packaging as fast as possible what with the metal/plastic ties is NOT an easy accomplishment.

So we were almost done opening presents and dad had two huge and heavy gifts. When he opened them he wasn't surprised as he should have been and we quickly realized that he had purchased the presents (tools) for himself.. We told him he needed to at least look surprised. I think he pulled it off!

Ryan being weird...

Molly dog..

Chaz and Lisa eating their breakfast.. he is very fond of her..

after a wonderful breakfast of breakfast pizza momma and daddy were very tired.. so we napped while chaz played in between us..

and after we got the little one down for a nap.. we were out!

so were dad and the dog.. ha!

Before we left Sanda came over to give Chaz his Christmas presents, as if he hadn't had enough, he was super excited! He got a very cool Handy Manny motorcycle set. He loves it! He also got some dinosaurs that he thinks are really cool, You should hear him say Stegosaurus and Brontosaurus.. it is hilarious!