Christmas Morning
Looks like Santa came! It was such a fun Christmas morning! The kids woke up and we all gathered downstairs and walked up the stairs together. So many presents were ready under the tree and something fun was sitting by everyone’s full stockings on or beside the couch.
Matthew was more than excited about his piano keyboard. He wanted one but I think he was actually shocked to see it sitting there. He immediately sat down to play a song or two and then after going through everything in his stocking, laid it all out together on top of his piano. Lots of candy and some of those things you just need — including a plug for his Apple Watch. Santa is too smart.
Luke, fifteen, was so happy to see Air Pods sitting next to his stocking that he jumped up and ran over to hug dad. He was also overjoyed to find mini red solo cups and ping pong balls for trick shots. Happy boy for sure.
Meg started the day with brand new college bound luggage!! …and make-up galore and some Nike socks.
Santa brought Katie and Emily a 40 oz Stanley… some makeup and things, and Nike socks. Santa brought an extra too so they could pick exactly which color they loved the best. So smart. Katie liked the cream one and Emily picked the faint blue one leaving the green eucalyptus one for… me! Later we gifted Granny J and Grandma Walton with 30 oz Stanley’s so it was a very merry Stanley Christmas!
Double stockings for Ryan and Cassie. They brought their stockings from home for each other and Santa filled Ryan’s family stocking with a few treats for both of them. They loved their pickle ball rackets and now have all the equipment for a four player game with friends or family, which is so fun.
My stocking was filled with favorite treats, Rifle Paper Co. pencils, Mickey Mouse earrings and then a special note that Chris tucked in saying he wasn’t heading back to work in WY until the following day. I was shocked and overjoyed. What a wonderful start to the day! Chris had originally bought a flight for both Sunday and Monday and then worked out a way to close down the clinic on Monday so he could have a full Christmas Day at home. Love his surprises and he loves my reactions. Chris got some candy, a new phone charging cord and plug and a beautiful dark red tie.
After enjoying Santa presents and stockings, Dad started making Christmas breakfast and we pulled out the green Christmas tree plates, made the traditional grape juice and listened to Christmas music as we sat around the kitchen table to eat. Then we headed to our rooms to get ready for church.
A few Christmas Day pictures before we headed to church. We had a lovely hour Sacrament Meeting and Christmas program. It was wonderful to sing and listen to the program. Megan was asked to speak the angel part and did a great job. It was fun to have the whole family at church with us. Cassie found a good family friend within the ward and Jess said it was fun to meet our older girls and couldn’t wait to get together sometime with them.
My oldest and youngest. Love these two guys!
As soon as we got home from church at 11:20 we got back into our Christmas pjs and gathered in the living room to finally start opening presents.
He’s wanted a Dude Perfect basketball for ages!
The Trio — that was what written on the tag of her gift. Apparently they are the trio and no one is really in on the explanation except for them. Love it! Ryan and Cassie gave Meg a hair curler thing and some eye shadow.
Meg gave Ryan a Quiksilver t-shirt for Mexico (which of course he put right on) and Cassie some earrings.
Luke got Matt a Wireless Controller for the Switch — and then a little while later Luke opened up the same Controller from us. Happy boys. They’ve been wanting these for awhile.
Matt and Ryan went in on a Zelda game for Luke and then Ryan got Matt a little Kirby game.
Sharing my love of Rifle Paper Co. with Cassie! My favorite calendar.
We are so excited about these BANGE travel backpacks. We did a lot of research and think these will work really well for our travel year. They open up with zippers like a suitcase and have room for a lot of things including future laptops for online school. The boys are excited about them. They are going to be great.
This will be the most used present of the Christmas holidays. Our first game on Christmas evening had us hooked. Now we own all 4 AZUL games and love them all!
Thanks Ryan and Cassie!
Megan jumping behind the tree so she could find some of the presents that were hidden behind. Meg gave Matt a mini Germany soccer ball that he had seen and loved at Dicks. Matt is our boy with the least memories of Germany but the most love.
Monat and Babe lash for Kates
It was a Kindle Christmas.
Emily pitched in to help Dad and I give Kindle’s to Luke and Matt… especially excited to have these for travel. Matt has been using Dad’s a lot recently so now Dad gets his back!
Later Ryan surprised Cassie with one and she was delighted. She got it all set up after opening presents and almost read an entire book on Christmas evening!
And later Chris surprised me with one! I’m excited and think it will be so fun — especially for upcoming trips. And new cases for all of us! So fun.
Megan had the best idea to give Emily a cute three shelf cart for her room. Luke and Matt went in on it and helped put it together and brought it in from the garage all together. It sat in front of her and she immediately put her Selection Book Series sitting on top. Everyone nick-named it the Book Cart and then throughout the morning after Cassie was gifted each book, it was added to the Book Cart. So many that she practically took it over.
Cute Katie and her new lounging outfit. She found it when we were shopping together at Called to Surf and Dad secretly had the cashier go into the dressing room and put it discreetly into a bag and bought it right in front of her. Such a fun surprise.
Rifle Paper Co. calendars for all the girls from Grandma Walton (and one for Cassie from me). I’ve loved mine! My mom gave me mine for my birthday so I’m all set too!
Megan’s big present was a Macbook Air for college… but which will come in handy for high school homework before she graduates. Happy girl! A little later Chris surprised me with a Macbook Pro. YAY!!! I’m so excited to have a laptop so I can edit and journal on trips.
Matching flannels for Meg and Luke. Haha. Luke loved his blue/brown flannel. He picked out a similar one for his birthday and couldn’t decide between the two so I picked this one up for Christmas. He was happy to get a sweatshirt, flannel, a black long sleeved Quiksilver shirt, three plain t-shirts, a pair of brown Converse and a running outfit. This kid is all about his look these days - and his crazy hair.
Not too many pics of Dad opening his presents but he got a new nice backpack for travel, a nice black toiletry bag, two power banks to recharge phones, (from Megan and me), a laptop case (from the boys), a Travis Mathew black golf shirt and t-shirt (from Katie and Emily). I also got him some noise cancelling Air Pods but he’s still deciding what he wants in that arena.
Megan’s new shirt/jacket from Called to Surf.
Katie and Emily found me a gold necklace with a little D on it for my Dad. It’s perfect and it made me pretty emotional. Definitely one of my favorite gifts this Christmas.
Emily had a strong shoe Christmas — a pair of brown Converse high tops and a pair of black and grey Nike Air Jordan’s. Katie got several outfits from Albion that she loved. Two lightweight pants, two nice shirts and a bomber jacket.
A Golf pull Cart and a tee time with Dad to golf at Dixie Red Hills. He’s the most anxious to golf and keeps asking and asking when the two of them can go. January 6th buddy!
Cool Gravitrax Expansion pieces from Ryan and Cassie. After Christmas Ryan helped them come up with a cool track using them. Love that they have all the same interests that bond them together.
Megan with her Rifle Paper Co. calendar. It’s not a surprise that she flipped it to the Mexico page. We leave for a trip to Puerto Vallarta with the Johnsons in a couple of weeks and after we open up every present - we keep saying ‘IT’S FOR MEXICO’ — even when it’s not. Pretty funny.
It was a shoe Christmas. Some of these we had to return for sizes/colors but most worked and everyone was happy! Meg was especially happy with her new cleats!
After opening presents - which took hours - we took some selfies and had a little dance party video using Luke and Matt’s selfie stick which they got from Katie and Emily.
Then we got out the leftovers to enjoy a big Christmas dinner spent the evening cleaning up, and playing games. Love being with my people. Merry Christmas!