December 24, 2015
This year Jones family Christmas came a little early. With Brandon and Jamie living in Jacksonville, Kim and Tom wanted to travel Christmas Day to see them. They also offered to take the kids for a few days. As you can imagine, that was a deal worth facilitating!! So we had Christmas lunch at the Settle’s’ house on Christmas Eve followed by a short nap and then Christmas at Mom and Dad’s house. We kicked things off with the opening of kid stockings and presents shortly after 4:00.
With 14 people to accommodate, we set up camp around the tree in the formal living room. Mom and Dad provide our little nuclear family with space next to the fireplace, but Jeremy couldn’t find a good way to keep his leg elevated over there. We took our sideshow to the dining room table area. Selah June got right into her stocking; it was filled with SJ treats like crackers and gummies and balls. She was mostly interested in crushing the crackers in their single-serving packaging. We had to pry them away from her to get to open a present.
She LOVED her wheel of bells, and the other little kids did as well. She LOVED her teeter totter abacus and her stackable puzzle. We saved her record player and books to fully explore at home. She also got bath toys and a Ferris wheel with little people that have received much attention over the last few days.
We saved her beautiful smocked baby blue dress with puffed sleeves and little Santas to wear on Christmas Day. Grandma sent it all the way from Broken Arrow, and it was the talk of both Christmas gatherings. And I have to say I’m pretty pleased with how clean we kept it, despite all of the holiday treats! Maybe it can make another appearance next year.
After the kids finished opening all of their gifts, they settled into a movie in the den. The adults found perfect perches to savor their long-anticipated stockings and gifts. Jeremy and Aaron got XBox Ones. Brock got a watch he wanted. All the girls got the perfect gifts picked out on our annual trip to Destin. The baby was really great through the whole thing. She’s turning into a wonderfully-content and easygoing little girl, and I’m so proud of her.
We munched on meat and veggie trays, cakes and cookies, and specialty truffles from Dad’s “holiday gathering” at work. It was laid back and delightful.