Christmas has come and gone.....

and here's some pictures to show for it.....

We usually spend Christmas eve at my uncle's house in Glendora but bec. they were out of the country this season, we ended up staying home, something we've never really done before. It was quiet and I LIKED it. No stress. Although I did feel sad that I didn't get to spend it with my relatives.

Mitch came home early from work and so we rented a couple of videos. This is us in the afternoon of Christmas Eve, watching "The journey to the center of the earth", keeping warm with blankets and sweaters plus eating popcorn. What could be better?


then Maddie comes in my room looking like this......

and tells me that this is what a mom looks like! You can't tell but she had a few big bracelets on one arm too. Not for her mom that's for sure! I would never put this ensemble together. LOL.

Then that night we drove by a street in La Palma that had houses decorated with fun and colorful lights. I heard it from a friend at church and was so intrigued by it and when we got there I wasn't disappointed. It was great. The street was a little cul de sac off of the main street. All the houses seemed to have been competing with one another as to who had the best lights cause each of their front yards were litted up with all sorts of decorations and lights. Here's some of my favorite ones....





Then on Christmas day, the kids didn't wait for me to open their gifts hence no pictures of them opening up presents from Santa. They all enjoyed their presents though.

I made these reindeer cupcakes to bring to the Tolman's. I was assigned to bring the "kiddie" dessert.


Grandma Tolman's theme for her gifts this year to all the grandkids were sweaters. I thought that was fun! Here's her with little Maddie


then Marcus got a speed racer gift from one of the cousins. Since there's 24 (or 25 now?) grandkids, each cousin just gets one name to get a gift for. That way parents don't have to break the bank in order to give presents to family and also each kid gets to take home a toy.


My favorite part of the gift exchange is the adults version where in we put our gifts on the table worth $25-30 each, everyone gets a number and we take turns either opening one or stealing a gift from another person. We had a few steals this year, like this one that Mitch got to open but was stolen from him by his brother Paul....


Grandpa Tolman got to open this one up and it was the PERFECT gift for him cause he already has a bathroom in the house all themed with this....


All in all, this season was filled with lots of blessings, family time, great laughs and the reminder of the wonderful gift we've received- the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ.

Till next time,
Grace