’Twas the night before Christmas at the Hopewell home and Mommy got the bright idea to set up the camera on the tripod and set it to automatically take a picture every few minutes so that she could capture everyone all morning including herself (bad idea - no one wants to see themselves captured on film first thing in the morning!) So I spent a good while the night before finding a good spot for the tripod that wouldn’t get tripped over by someone and would still capture everyone and all the excitement.
The kids woke us up at 6:30 on the dot and we all gathered in the living room. (I couldn’t decide whether to use my flash or not so that’s why the pictures all look a little different.) We left the little girls sleeping until later.
The kids passed out all the presents after showing us all what Santa brought for them. Then we took turns (in birth order, of course!) opening our presents.
There wasn’t much action and most of the pictures all look the same because we just sat there and opened up presents! Oh well, at least I have a few pictures of most of us together.
I finally decided 50 pictures of the same scene was enough and grabbed the camera to get some closer shots of everyone opening their presents. Ryley got some Louis L’Amour books that Josh recommended because he loved them at that age. Josh has been reading them to him at night and he’s enjoying it.
Cash is our science kid and we found this fun book for him.
I love this age at Christmastime. He is so fun!
This year we switched up the family gift exchanges with each side of the family and all the cousins drew names and gave to each other. It was fun for the kids to make some gifts and buy some gifts for some of their cousins that they don’t get to see all the time. It was also fun to receive some gifts from far away!
Daddy got some sorely-needed guitar strings. Poor guy had been playing on 5 strings for quite a while!
And some Mike and Ike’s. He always gets Mike and Ike’s. :)
Maddie got a Taylor Swift CD that she didn’t have yet. She also got the Frozen soundtrack from Caitlin and Dave and LOVES it!
Ryley got two new DS games.
Maddie’s big present from Santa was violin lessons!
Cash’s big present was a Nintendo 3DS. Santa must really love him!
Ryley assumed this position and stayed here for days playing his new games.
The camera went back on the tripod for a little while.
Sawyer’s big present in there in the background - a Big Wheel! Sadly it’s been too cold to ride it much. Hopefully once it warms up (and we move to place with sidewalks!) he’ll be able to ride it more.
Maddie tried on her new pajama pants.
Then the clean up started so we could go wake up the girls.
Sawyer did not like the fact that the girls got to open up presents and he didn’t have any to open up.
Santa brought Emily a doctor’s kit.
And Gracie got a dollhouse.
There were also a few books and other toys.
This toy was the definite favorite for Emily.
She sat mesmerized for quite a while and held onto it even while opening up the others.
Gracie got a light up toy too (so did Sawyer).
Aunt Caitlin sent Em a little purse with fun toys in it.
This lipstick has been the biggest hit. We are all very beautiful every single day!
Grandma gave them some stuffed animals.
One of Josh and Mandy’s kids sent this Mega Block set to the girls.
Emily is doing the sign for help here asking me to help her open this present from Grandma. She’s learned quite a few signs and will do most of them regularly now.
Lots of dishes!
Then we all got some breakfast and showered and got ready to go over to Granny and Pops’ house. Josh stayed home with the sickies (Ryley, Sawyer and Emily).
My parents gave each of the grandkids some money this year so they could buy something for themselves. Matt Mo was not excited about it. He just didn't get the concept. He wanted a toy NOW, not to go buy one LATER. Too funny!
All of us Smith kids pooled our money and got Pops a rolling golf cart.
My amazing mom made each of the little girls (Lucy, Grace and Emily) a quilt. I, of course, broke down in tears upon opening that present. I did not expect it at all and they are just so beautiful. I keep meaning to take pictures but I can never remember to. Someday!
And that’s all the pictures I got. :( We had our usual strawberry waffles and bacon for breakfast and then packed up and headed home. Josh took the un-sick kids over to his parents house later that night and had dinner with all of them. Jessie and Svend and their family along with Jordan and Erica were in town and I’m sad we didn’t get to spend more time with them. Between being sick and Emily not dealing well with the huge gatherings of people we just couldn’t manage it.
All the sisters on the Hopewell side (Diane, Elisa, Jessie, Erica and I - Jess, you finally have as many sisters as you do brothers!) got together for lunch one afternoon before Jessie and her family headed back to Chicago and Erica and Jordan headed back to California. We had a fun time! So glad I have so many sisters!!
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