CHRISTMAS 2010

Christmas 2010 broke all traditions. Shane and Jess were not here. We did not drink hot buttered rum. I think this is the first year Shane has never been home for Christmas and I know it was the first year ever we did not do the traditional drinking of hot buttered rum without the rum. We missed Shane and Jess so much. I just can't describe it.

All the gifts were under the tree. Instead of name tags I use pictures on the gifts to indicate who the gift recipient is. I had intended on Anna Claire and Bennett delivering all the gifts to each person. As you can see in the video, they only grabbed their gifts.

VIDEO OF ANNA CLAIRE AND BENNETT GETTING THEIR GIFTS FROM UNDER THE TREE

This little girl loves her Ma. Bennett does too but I can't get him to sit still long enough for a picture.

 Here we are trying to have a posed picture but Bennett was taking a picture of Jessica taking a picture of us.

 We told Bennett to put down the camera. He looks a little frustrated.

I gave up a long time ago on having a posed picture of all of us. We told the kids that they could open presents after we took pictures under the tree. Now, it was gift time and Anna Claire and Bennett delivered gifts. All they had to do was match the picture on the gift with the person. They only grabbed their presents at first, then they got everyone else's presents delivered.

Bennett's favorite gift was his gun. He kept saying "Daddy, will you take me duck hunting with you?" Anna Claire's favorite gift may have been all the My Little Ponies but she played with her Leapster Explorer and dog Patty most of the time.

Anna Claire and Jessica playing with the Leapster Explorer.

 Bennett and Brent playing with the Stinky the Garbage Man.

After opening gifts we had a nice meal. I have the Christmas Spode Christmas Tree china and it looked so pretty on the dining room table. We all ate in the dining room and even Anna Claire and Bennett got to eat on the china. While we were eating Anna Claire asked Jessica if she could pretend she was 7 years old. Why, of course!

All of this was going on while the Sear's repairman was there. He left and now my new dishwasher does not work! Christmas Eve night Gary and I watched tv and went to bed early. Brent and his family went back to Jessica's parent's house.

VIDEO OF BENNETT OUTSIDE WITH HIS GUN

Christmas Day morning Shane called. I can't describe how wonderful it was to hear "Hi Mom." We called Jess and wished her a Merry Christmas. I think what bothered me more than anything was that Shane would not receive anything on Christmas. I had mailed a christmas card and a package that will probably never make it to him.

Christmas Day we went to Kaye and David's for lunch. Mr. and Mrs. Orr (Gary's parents), Kaye and David, and Brandon and his wife and step son were there.