Christmas in Jackson, Part I

Prepare yourself, these next few posts will be FILLED with pictures. Sorry in advance.

We scurried around Wednesday night finishing up Christmas wrapping, gifts, and packing the car. We were ready to head east and celebrate Christmas with the Thompsons. I worked most of Thursday and we had the annual fish and chicken fry in the shop, that’s always a fun event. I took off a little early and headed to the cleaners, grocery store, bank, to see my mom and tell her bye and then to my dad’s store to say bye to him. I had everything ready to go when Kody got off at 5. We hit the road!

I would have liked to have napped on the way there (it’s just 3 hours) but it was dark and that wasn’t fair to KT. Plus there were deer on the side of the road in spots so I was his watch dog! ;) We arrived about 8:45 and I was 9 kinds of tired. Fatigue and all, I went up to my SIL’s house and helped her wrap gifts and watch Friends with Benefits. Interesting movie. My FIL and BIL were at the Mizzou/Illinois basketball game in St. Louis so they weren’t home. Kody stayed with his mom and helped her make marinade for the lamb he cooked the next day. Yes, lamb! She wanted something pretty and different. It was not bad either! It was a late night and almost 1 by the time I got in bed!

Friday was our Christmas with the immediate Thompson family. Friday morning Drew came over and we went and ran errands. Kody, Kyle, and John ran to Perryville for a bank deal. We all met up at Estes’s for lunch and then I went to get my nails done. By the time I was done with that Kaci and Luke had arrived and we were ready to cook, snack, and eventually open gifts! Everyone came over about 5 to snack and then eat around 6. My MIL always goes all out for her decor. I snapped a few pictures of everything before it got messed up!

   

The guys were in charge of the meat, Kody roasted a lamb and Luke made beef tenderloin. Both were really good. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy much meat over the course of the weekend (or now for that matter) because of this dumb medicine.

And I love meat! Dinner was wonderful though. We were all there, Teresa, John, Kyle, Erica, Drew, Drake, Kaci, Luke, Kody, myself,  Grandma and her neighbor Marion. It was everyone’s first Christmas without Grandad Hilton, who we said goodbye to him in April after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was missed!

We tried snapping some pictures of the boys after dinner. Drake was easier than Drew….what is it with a 3 year old and a camera? Ha!  You can see the progression! Hilarious.

Kody and I did a little better! ;-)

We played with the boys for awhile before they opened their gifts. Drake is such a chubby baby, much different than his skinny big brother Drew. They are both so cute! I can’t believe Drake’s cheeks!!

Because the hat is camo, you can barely see, but Drake is wearing a West Plains Bank hat (Kody’s bank) and his Daddy & Grandpa are Bank of Missouri employees… ;)   We thought it was funny.

Then it was time for the boys to open their gifts from everyone. John went outside and jingled bells and Drew heard them and knew Santa came. I think this was probably the only year that will work! Next year he may know it’s PawPaw ho-ho-hoing outside the window! We went outside to see what Santa left.

Then it was time for more presents….

Kyle & Erica put the boys to bed and then it was time for the adults to open! It’s always a crazy mess when we open because everyone goes at once and paper is thrown everywhere. A crazy, fun mess!

Kody made Grandma a Pinterest inspired wreath with sewing things on it. It  was so neat! She loved it. John worked with my Dad and got Teresa a new wedding set for Christmas. She hadn’t ever had a carat or more ring, well she does now! The stone is so pretty and the band itself is definitely HER! I love it! She was SOOO surprised! You can tell by her reaction. ;) My Dad wrapped it in several boxes so it was fun to see her open each one.

 

We received some really nice things. I got an external hard drive for my pictures, memory foam mattress for our bed, we got a new tv for our bedroom, lots of clothes, money, gift cards, etc.

It was 11:30 by the time we were done opening and playing games, we played the pickle game and Kyle & Erica won. We won last year, but this year we all 3 got a prize! ;) Late night once again, but so fun filled with memories!

Props to you if you read this far!