Here comes Santa (part 3--the finale)

So as tradition continues we head to the Hill's house Christmas afternoon (usually after naps :) This year we took a little more time at my mom and dad's to be lazy because in true Hill fashion things didn't go as planned (note: this is not a dig at the Hill's, simply a statement as we are always a little off kilter on that side.. heck there are almost more kids than adults so who can blame us!) Anyways the reason it didn't go as planned is because the Clawson Clan came down with a BIG bug. All kids, dad and grandparents were sick. We postponed for a day and then decided to push it back another day (to Sunday) just to try and keep everyone well. This worked somewhat but Dah still caught the funk.
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Some of us were able to gather Christmas night for what I affectionately called the Salvation army dinner. Poor Mah she had planned a real dinner (stroganoff) but with over half the family not coming she put that aside and made due with what was in the fridge/pantry (all the stores were closed) We had a surprisingly yummy smorgasbord of goodness.
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So the adults had some cold beverages and the kiddos ran around and played like there was no tomorrow. They didn't even talk about the massive amount of presents in the living room --good thing they are little! We even had a sighting of the Schmidties!

I have no idea what this kid is doing.. he loves to play in Mah's Tupperware (as you will see later) and was dancing in the kitchen like some crazyman!

This has now become a norm.. we put the kids in the highchair and put food on the plate.. then we retreat to the other room to enjoy the joy of eating as adults.. Don't judge.. it works! (and we don't do this at home :) The funny thing about this is all the parents forgot to bring DVDs so we decided to open one of Anna's presents early.. the kids are watching Tinkerbell.. it is ok though Dah rewrapped it and Anna was non the wiser.

Jackson was able to open one gift. more because it was unavoidable (it wasn't wrapped but instead had a big bow on it) He got a John Deere tractor...and because it snowed we sent them out to play!
HA! Chaz's hat is coming off and he looks like a conehead.. oh well he loved it!
Oh course it was below freezing so that fun didn't last long.. we tried to hide it in the garage.. but they found it. Cameron and I then devised a quick sneak attack on the tractor.. I grabbed the kids (kicking and screaming) and he hid it in a locking bedroom.. I know it wasn't the nicest thing to do but there wasn't the option to go outside and it didn't need to be driven in the house..
Soon they were fine.. I mean just give the kid a CapriSun and all is well right! Some rules can be broken on Christmas day right?!?!
Jackson giving Chaz a smooch!! Cameron said "only while you are little, otherwise it is just weird!" HA!
We did have a surprise visit from the Schmidts--they live right down the road from Mah/Dah but unfortunately this lousy picture is all I got of the kids.. oops! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And then.. finally -- HILL FAMILY CHRISTMAS!!!! (on the 27th)
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It didn't take long before the kiddos (and by that I mean Dah) were asking "when can we open presents" Of course Chaz was saying "Anna, Santa bring you toys.. yeah?!?!" " Jack Jack, Santa bring you toys.. yeah?!?!" and so on and so on..

First presents are always the "unwrappable" so the boys got their Arkansas Razorback chairs. Chaz and Jackson also have them..

Of course Chaz could not understand why 1) his chair had duplicated itself and 2) brought itself and it's new clone to MahDah's.. so he wanted to sit in the chair.. We decided that was ok but decided that he should hold Brandon if he was sitting in his chair.. Chaz was nice for 2.2 seconds but then pushed his belly forward resulting in Ben being "removed" from the chair..

Kissing on Ben.. too sweet!

Our family got Anna a bathtime Ariel doll. Reason 1) her mom told us she wouldn't buy it for the price ..cheap mom (just kidding Meghan!) Reason 2) She is one of my favorite nieces (I have 2 and 2 on the way!) Reason 3) we found it (somewhat) on sale.. You can't really tell by this picture but i think he face hurt with such a HUGE smile! She was absolutely glowing! Score 1 for the Hills!

Anna got lip gloss from Mah/Dah and decided to try it out on her brother (this will not be the last time!) Poor Ben This is Ben looking at his Daddy.. if I had to guess what he is saying "Daddy seriously? You are letting Anna put lipgloss on me and Aunt T take pictures?? I have no dignity"

One of the biggest hits of the night were the shopping carts. The kids loved them!

Chaz had to get his tools to help daddy put them together.. what a good helper!

Ryan for some odd reason thought it was a good idea to put a 2 year old in the basket and let another 2 year old push him.. no injuries reported but it was still a bad idea Chaz ripping into some good stuff!!

And another set of goggles.. he loves them and I would hate to loose any so good thing every Black and Decker anything comes with a set of goggles.. Chainsaw!! Funny~ That is what Papa got Daddy-O....not that one but a real one :) Chaz thinking his rolling tool box could fit in his cart.. silly monkey

All the children/grandchildren got Mah/Dah a TV for their bedroom. We thought it would be a good idea to let the grandkids open it and surprise Mah/Dah (they thought the kids were helping Ben & Brandon open a gift from us.. they were so surprised when we said "A TV?? that isn't for B&B it is for Mah/Dah!!!"

When i say surprised I mean really surprised.. this is Mah crying. Note: is is our goal as kids to try and make Mah cry (happy tears only) at each and every family event.. It is like earning a gold star when you do it!

Chaz ripping into his new kitchen.. Yes my BOY cot a kitchen and he loves it! His daddy is the cook in our family and if you have noticed from old posts he loves to help his daddy cook

Dah and Brandon..

So Ryan and Cameron are morons.. Morons that we love! They decided it would be a good idea to shoot Sangria.. Really?? Yep! They shot one shot a minute for 10 minutes.. They really were not loopy.. more sick to their stomach from the sweetness..

Cute boy tuckered out from opening gifts all day.. i know it is a hard life..and yes that is a Linus shirt complete with blanket.
Chaz and Anna were watching TV. I wanted to take a picture but couldn't get them to turn their heads when they said CHEESE! So this is the result.

Jackson wanted to join in the fun.. again heads would not turn to say cheese

Finally we have the front of their faces!!!

I decided to toss the rest of the kiddos up there to get a good "cousins" shot

Look how sweet Chaz is huggin' Anna!

Chaos.. Chaz still trying to hug Anna.. Ben climbing on Anna. Brandon wondering why Jackson is freakin' out.. HA! That is what I get for trying to take a picture of 5 toddlers!

Jackson This is another favorite thing of the kids.. In the back room there is a pack-n-play.. the kids love to play in it climbing in and out.. Anna and chaz said they were going "nigh nigh"

Pretending to be "nigh nigh" complete with fake snoring If I didn't take this picture myself I would swear it was Brandon but it is actually Ben!

And another favorite of the kiddos.. TUPPERWARE!! They get it all out and either play with it on the floor or take it elsewhere to play.. today they loaded it all up in .. what else?? a shopping cart!!!

and took it to the backroom. They proceeded to unload it onto the bed and tol dme they were having a baking party.. where do they get this? I don't bake!

Baking party

chaz thinking a funnel is a horn and Jackson laughing so hard he can't even look at me!

more horn.. Sweet boy!

If a funnel can be a horn can't a bowl be a hat? why not?!?!
and to finish off the weird randomness Ryan put a clip on his lip and let Brandon continuously pull it off..note: this was not a gentle action but got tons of laughs out of everyone.
Look at Dah's face in the background! HA!
Nothing good can come from this.....

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Well after 3 rounds of Christmas I am sure you can tell we are surrounded with love from all angles. We have fablous parents, grandparents, kids, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends etc.. We woudl not be the people we are wihtout each and every one of you in our lives. We are truely blessed in all we have and everyone we know. Merry Christmas to everyone and we wish you only the best in 2010!
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'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
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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!
and yes we did have a white Christmas. I can't remember the last time we had a white Christmas. What a wonderful surprise!