Christmas Day at Grandma's

On Christmas morn after we've finished our individual family Christmas gift giving at our homes, all of us meet at my Mom's house for another round of presents. As peeps filter in, there's much info to share amongst ourselves about the good things given and received. There are many goodies to eat as we visit, and since everyone, for the most part, is a grown up, we aren't as quick to run in and open presents as we used to be. Eventually, about an hour or so after all have arrived, we make our way into the living room, jockey for position and ready ourselves for the opening of presents. This is when the name exchanging people get the big pay off by watching as our chosen one opens their gifts. This is where Becky would have enjoyed watching Emma open a certain black and white polka dot make-up case. But why am I bringing that up again? Anyway, we always sing happy birthday to Jesus, get a lecture from Billie about the reason for the season, someone reads a scripture or sings a song and then we start ripping paper. This year we had a repeat performance of Austin playing the guitar as Emma sang, Mary Did You Know. It was quite lovely.

This year we made the concerted effort to open our gifts slowly so all could see who gave what to whom. We've tried this in the past but unfortunately it rarely works out. The frenzy of opening gifts usually overtakes people and before you know it, ten minutes has passed and 900 gifts have been opened in that amount of time. OK, not exactly 900 presents, really. But it's a lot. This year we gave ourselves an A++ for opening slowly. For Billie June's gift giving, she very painstakingly wraps each gift for each person and then she puts them in a box or a bag which makes her gifts very organized. So usually all the girls are opening the Gmaw gifts at the same time and squealing as they do. I wish I had a picture of all the girls with this year's big gift, individually chosen patterns of Vera Bradley bags for each female. They were a HUGE hit. But Billie could give out used candy wrappers to this group and we would all ohhh and aaaahhhh about it. It can't go unacknowledged that Carrie helps Billie make Christmas happen every year. And the two of them do an excellent job. This year was no exception. All gifts were excitedly received.

This year Carrie and I passed out the gifts to the people. With this job comes a lot of power. I like that. There were a few bomb shell surprises for a couple of people. And one of them was me! YAY! Scroll down and see how the day progressed in pictures.

Emma singing to start the festivities.


Austino playing the guitar.


Love the guitar and the player. This room is no longer a yellow fellow.


I took very few pics since I was passing out gifts but here's half the room.....


And here's the other half. BOOM! Roll taken. All present. I forgot this story from my house. This year as always Owen's sissies got him gifts....to him....from them. Well, the boy got his sissies a big fat nothing this year. Which actually means I didn't buy something for them, from him so they would have a gift to open from the brother. Well, after he'd opened his gift from his sisters, he said to his sisters, "My present to you is my presence." To which his sister Emma replied, "Well, I hope you have the receipt for that, because I'd like to return it" Hmmmm, wonder where she gets that biting sarcasm?


So at some point, Carrie was standing near the tree and all at once people started screaming at her from every direction. She had NO IDEA what was being yelled at her, until she felt a big WHOOSH behind her as the Christmas tree went crashing to the ground. In all of my 52 years of Christmasing at Mom and Dad's house, this has never happened. It was shocking. OK, it wasn't really that shocking, but it did happen, as evidenced below. That's Maggie with her hands clasped to her face in mock horror. Olivia looks highly amused.


There were no human casualties but sadly, some ornaments didn't make it. No one in this picture looks as disturbed as Maggie did.


We considered gathering around the fallen tree and singing Kumbaya, but then, didn't. OK, that's not really true. But SOMEONE get up and pick up that darned tree!


That's right, pick it up.


Thank you!


There, almost good as new. And if I hadn't posted pictures, no one would have been the wiser.


OK by now all the gift giving is almost over and I got almost nothing and even though I was HIGHLY disturbed about it, I covered my disappointment very well. OK that's not really true either. I was pist! OK that's not really true either. So here's the real story. Carlie had my name for the giving of gifts this year and as I dutifully helped pass out the gifts to other people, I began to notice there were NONE with my name on them. I was concerned to say the least. Then, people seemed to begin to disperse and I thought, "What the crap! I'm getting so shafted!" Then an announcement was made. One I didn't like. And oh by the way check out Olivia's face in the pic below. HILARIOUS.


Finally, when I'd lost all hope of getting anything good, Jared gave out the following rules for one last present. He said there was one more gift and that whoever's name was on the card was the person responsible for opening it. Then he said something about Dale and me having to share a present or something weird like that. And when I heard that, I began to tune him out. I mean share? Who does that at Christmas? Plus, I was especially concerned because Dale doesn't share as good as me. ANYWAY a BIG present was brought out and handed to me. It said to Lisa. SCORE!!


I'm still opening.


BUT when I opened it, it had another present inside that said, To Dale. Which meant I had to pass it to him. UGH. But see? I'm covering nicely. I look happy to give and not receive. I wasn't


He's checking the name before opening.


Look at Dale on the iphone being taped and in the pic. It's a doubler.


Guess what the next gift said? To Lisa. Pass it back man! Now I'm really happy.


What in the cat hair?


Come to Mama.


I don't know why I'm so excited. I haven't gotten to the good part yet.


Finally, I get to a box that had two presents in it. One to me and one to Dale.


I'm checking to make sure all is correct and I have NO idea what's going on or what the gift is.


OK. Finally individual presents for each of us. I'm so relieved.


And there you have it. SHOCK AND AWE.


And then thrill and excitement!


As was he as well.


Still trying to get in the box!


I can't believe it.


Two proud owners of iPads. SO excited!


Lots of pics of the event.


We had so much fun!


It was a group gift from everyone with Carlie being the brainstormer who came up with the idea. And I have to say it was brilliant! I've never been so surprised by any gift ever given to me. It was quite a coup! I love my iPad and use it every day. I love love love it.

Thanks to my entire family for the gift and the surprise. I'll never forget it ever.

Up next, Christmas night at Grandma's and then Christmas is really Over!