Christmas is in the rear view mirror now, so I'm trying to recount the fun we had before I forget it all. We spent Christmas here and then headed to Mom and Dad's the day after (which will be my Part 2). Christmas Eve we went to church with Mere Mere and Popsey. It was a great service with lots of Christmas songs and readings. The kids did well too, we had to leave for a little while but then made it back in for the candle lighting.
I love Christmas Eve…more even that Christmas Day I think. It's so holy and quiet and deep and just cozy. It makes me focus on Christ and His birth before all of the festivities and craziness of the day. I had to fight tears in the service while singing those songs that remind us of the wonder of that holy night. My favorite Christmas song lately has been O Come O Come Emmanuel, the longing in that song for the Savior to come and the joy that we have that He has come to save us. But I think O Holy Night is working its way up the list. It's such a great song focusing on the holiness and majesty of when Christ was born, songs are so wonderful.
Tucker wasn't too happy but we got him calmed down eventually.
The boys were ready to open presents.
And I have such fond memories of it from my childhood, going to church and doing the Christmas play, a fellowship with church members and then coming home to open presents by the light of the Christmas tree, playing until we had to go to sleep and then wondering what would be under the tree in the morning. I hope that we can give those same type of memories to our kids as they grow.
Dalton's doing double duty and the boys are diving into the presents.
Excited about their cookware and play food!
After we got home from church we opened our family presents and enjoyed the time together before bed. The boys got several things but I think their favorite was a set of pots/pans to play with, in addition to food to use for their grill. Dalton did a good job picking those out! I got a really nice sweater from Dalton (picked it out himself) in addition to a few other things. He got a coffee pot from me because he's started drinking coffee now, and some wireless speakers to use with the computer. The boys really enjoyed opening gifts and sorting through them.
Then we put the boys in their PJs and then set out a snack for Santa. Cooper was so excited about this part and it was the first thing he checked in the morning. When I asked if Santa came, he didn't run to look for presents, but went straight to the empty plate. He squealed "Santa came to MY house and ate the snack we gave him!!"
Cooper's setting out Santa's treat.
Santa did visit!!
Then we all checked out our stockings. Cooper was pretty funny as he pulled things out of his. Santa brought him some underwear (in addition to lots of fun things) and there were several pair in the stocking. With the first one he said "Underwear!", then "More underwear" (less enthusiastically), then "more underwear…." (with a bored and disappointed voice). It was pretty cute and I'm glad that I caught it on camera. Ace was short sighted when it came to the stocking. He pulled a container of goldfish out and then was only focused on those…finally we got him to keep looking.
Tucker's watching the action as the boys empty their stockings.
Then they found some arrows that Santa left to the big gift….they followed them to the back door and saw their gift, a "cool trampoline with a net around it and a zipper!" as Cooper described it. They bundled up for a quick jump while we got ready to head to Mere Mere and Popsey's for the day. It was hard to leave all the new toys behind, but we got the kids into the car and got on the road, singing Christmas songs all the way to town.
At Mere Mere and Popsey's we visited for a few minutes and then opened gifts there. As usual they did too much, but we are so grateful for it all. The boys each got a truck and trailer to haul their cows, horses and bulls that they got from aunts, uncles and grandparents. They wound up with an entire ranch set and I was just as excited as they were I think. Nana gave them a dump truck and excavator, which they were super excited about!
The boys got ranch items from family members
so that they can have their own ranch at home.
Ace is checking out the dump truck that Nana got him.
Ready to load some cattle with his new truck and trailer
from Mere Mere and Popsey.
Nana does a good job reading Cooper's new book to him.
Aunt Kim and Ace enjoy some quality time by the fire, while Tucker checks things out.
After the gifts were opened we all visited and watched the kids play until the big Christmas lunch. I even had everyone play a Christmas song game. As guests arrived, Cooper went outside and met them at their cars. He would tell them hello, ask them if there was anyone else in the car, and even helped one person park their car (a highlight for him). Everyone commented on his greeting skills.
Enjoying quality family time.
Cooper decided to be the photographer that evening.
He staged photos and took them on Mere Mere's camera.
We ate yummy dinner, beef tenderloin and lots of great sides! Then we rested a bit before heading home to pack for our next trip. It was a very festive and enjoyable day, as usual, with the Pitcock family and a great way to celebrate Christ's birth.
Setting up the ranch at home
In Part 2, we'll see how the Moore side of Christmas went…
"Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests." Luke 2:14
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