Christmas 2010

Christmas in West Memphis! We usually spend Christmas Day with both sides of the family, but this year we decided to change things up and start alternating between families each year. Our goal was for Owen to be able to play and enjoy his toys rather than packing things up and rushing off to another Christmas.... and I would definitely say the goal was accomplished! He played, and played, and played with ALL of his new toys from the time he got up til the time he went to bed!

We arrived in West Memphis the Wednesday before Christmas and jumped right into the Christmas festivities with the Allison's. Emma Gayle, Watson, and Owen all exchanged presents and then took turns playing with each other's toys. Owen got a Home Depot Excavator and absolutely loved it! He and Watson took turns playing on it at first and then decided it was more fun to play on it together...they had a blast! Owen even enjoyed playing with Emma Gayle's barbie "Tangles"....which made his daddy proud! Ha!

Owen wearing Gigi's glasses...

The rest of the family arrived on Thursday. The guys kept with the tradition of frying turkeys, while the rest of us (that didn't want to hang out in the cold) stayed inside visiting, playing, and working a puzzle. A puzzle has been a long time Christmas tradition with my family, but this years was the hardest ever! Memaw has officially been fired from purchasing "the puzzle". We seriously worked on that puzzle the entire time we were in West Memphis and finally finished it the Sunday after Christmas with one piece missing.

Papa Bart and Uncle Carrold

Christmas Eve Dinner

We attempted the 6:00 Christmas Eve Candle Light Service, but Owen only made it about 15 minutes. Somehow we ended up on the 2nd row (mistake #1) and Owen thought it would be a good idea to have growling match with his dinosaurs during the first prayer (mistake #2...thinking dinosaurs would be a quiet toy to play with). Needless to say, we decided to leave so everyone else could enjoy the service instead of Owen's dinosaur animation.

After everyone else returned from church, we had dinner and exchanged gifts. Owen was quiet the little help during the exchange....he passed out each gift and then helped everyone open the gifts! When it came to opening his own...he was in no hurry. He wanted to play with each gift as soon as he opened it, unless it was clothes...and then he would just throw it over his shoulder and move on to the next present.

passing out the presents....

Anna and Papa Bart

Uncle Carrold, Yulonda, Gigi, and Amelia

opening...


Memaw showing off her new clothes...

playing with some new toys...

Cookies for Santa

Josh and Owen in their Christmas PJs reading T'was The Night Before Christmas

....still working on the puzzle

Owen's gifts from Santa

We had a very relaxing and laid back Christmas morning. Owen woke up around 8 o'clock, had some milk and a cookie for breakfast and then went in the living room to see what Santa had left. Josh and I were sure that the truck would be his favorite, but he ran straight to the basketball goal and started pointing and saying "ball, ball, ball!!!!". We spent the entire day playing with all his new toys! It was so much fun!

Me trying to entertain Owen while everyone got the cameras ready to capture his expression when he finally got to see what Santa had left for him....

trying out his new truck...

playing ball with daddy....

checking out his new tool bench...

coloring with mommy....

trying to figure out how to use his new broom...