The Patterson family had a very merry Christmas despite both kids being sick.
My sick baby boy
We did Christmas crafts with Lovie and Papa and made sugar cookies for Santa in preparation for the big guy's long-awaited arrival.
Making pretzel snowman with Lovie and Papa
The finished product
Making cookies for Santa
P and Pop came in town, Mal and Big came (all the way) over from midtown, and we enjoyed Christmas Eve the Olivier way with church then a traditional Cajun dinner and a few early Christmas presents.
The pirate ship from P and Pop
On our way to Christmas Even church service
New princess book from P and Pop
After a late night of assembling, displaying, arranging, and preparing for the next morning, Adam and I awoke early in anticipation of the kids reactions.
Gray's Santa loot
Letter from Bill the elf and leftover cookies/milk from Santa
Hayes' Santa loot
We waited and waited and waited, but not a peep did we hear. For those of you who know my kids, you know that they wake up at the crack of dawn and at the slightest hint of a sound in the nearby vicinity (thank you Lord for a master bedroom with its own separate wing!). For those of you who know me and Adam, you know that we dare not breathe a sound, lest we might wake our light-sleeping babies, and we have been known to shush people, take phones off ringers, and all-together skip necessary activities (bathroom breaks, dinner prep, etc) as a result. Well, not this morning....we banged pans, shut doors, talked loudly, waiting, pleading for the kids to get up because we just couldn't wait to see their reactions any longer. When we finally couldn't take it anymore, we woke them up.....and then we felt bad (sort of).
Not a happy camper to have been woken up
But it was all worth it when we saw their sweet faces at the sight of what Santa had brought for them.
Gray went straight to his Batman train table where he has spent most of the last two weeks and Hayes just followed him diligently, waiting for her turn with each toy, quickly ignoring all of the princess costumes, pop-up books, and pink items, with only a brief hint of interest in her new baby doll.
Does this thing shoot or vroom? Not interested....
Conductor Gray busy with work
We had several shifts of Christmas that day, starting with my parents who were there to see the kids when they woke up.
Hayes trying on her new kitten boots
Pop trying to convince Hayes to play with her new Dora bath doll
Then Adam's parents came over and the kids had a blast tearing into the gifts all over again, as if they were the first of the day.
Hayes finally playing with something.....but it's Gray's of course
Lauren, Andrew and cousin Greer came later and it was so cute to see all three of the Patterson grandkids all together and enjoying each other.
Hayes and Greer admiring Super Gray's new cape
Hayes showing Greer how to use her new Leap Frog pot
After a much-needed nap for all four of us, we capped off the night with a yummy Christmas dinner at Lovie and Papa's with the Griesbecks, Oliviers, and Kirklands. We feel so blessed that our families get along so well and can enjoy the holidays all together.
Hayes and Greer getting all the attention
Patterson Family 2010
As if we didn't get enough Christmas over the last couple of days, we headed on over to the Griesbecks two days after Christmas to celebrate with the whole Garretty clan (or at least most of them). It was so much fun to see William, Andrew, Gray, Hayes, and Greer playing all together, but we missed Daniel's 3 boys and are looking forward to seeing them at the next family gathering. We were also excited to hear that Adam's cousin, Beth, and her husband, Bill, are expecting their first baby! Congrats to them on their first child! We can't wait to see him/her right in the mix with the rest of the Garretty kids!
Garretty cousins at Christmas
Hayes and Greer
The kids table at the Garretty Christmas
The last of the Christmas decorations are finally down and though our house looks empty, our hearts are full. We are thankful for a blessed holiday and the notion that we will be staying put for a while longer.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The Pattersons
