Merry Christmas, Jonesies!

Our Christmas was wonderful this year!

We started a new tradition- Jones Family Shopping Day! On the 23rd, we got everyone ready and went out for a fun day of shopping for each other! We took the kids to a really huge dollar store and let them each have a turn picking out gifts for their siblings. This proved to be a really fun thing to do- they were so proud of their selections- and they even wrapped them themselves! Then, we went to lunch and finished the day doing a little last minute shopping for other gifts. The kids were pretty great, all things considered. And the snow kept coming.

Our Christmas was WHITE- an unusual occurance for Washington, but very lovely and fitting for the holiday. We were blessed to spend Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa Obray and Eric. Grandpa made the YUMMIEST Prime rib dinner and we followed the meal with a Christmas story with Grandma and some carols. The kids were tired and anxious to get in bed for Santa (weird- I wish EVERY night was Christmas eve...) so we went home and donned our Christmas jammies, laid out Oreos for the big guy (Santa's favorite cookie, you know...), and went to bed praying Santa would come after a day full of threats that he wouldn't if behavior didn't improve... (I'm not sure what it is about Christmastime- they could be angels the rest of the year, and during the most logical time to be really good, they are demons... hm.)

Christmas morning we awoke to the pitter patter of little feet, running around our room. We all went downstairs and very systematically opened our presents. (We were organized this year- mess was very minimal!) Highlights included a pink guitar for Annie, Two-wheel scooters for Charlie and Soph, a CD boombox for Henry and another ride-on toy for Mags. Each kid received what they wanted and everyone was happy...

Then came Christmas Number Two. Grandma and Grandpa Obray edition.

They arrived around lunch time with insane quantities of gifts for the kids. We have so many new games, puzzles, toys and books that I think we could successfully run our own Boys and Girls Club. It was wonderful. The kids are in heaven. Thanks G & G- we are so so excited about our new things!

It really was a wonderful holiday. Everyone was happy. Jim was home with us most of the week, which was a lot of fun. I'm always a little sad when the holidays are over, but I'm already thinking of my list of home improvements to start in January, so the sadness is minimal! :)