Christmas Eve Day

Our wonderful Christmas holiday began with a day at Grandma Mary Kay and Grandpa Larry's house. Daniel took a super early nap (the nap was NOT his idea- he sure cried and protested, but we could tell he just wasn't feeling himself- and a nap was exactly what he needed! I think he might have been fighting something for the past couple days, but he sure pulled through great!). Then Daniel was very excited to go to Pop-pop's house and see Aunt Wendy and of course "rip" presents. He was so sweet when he woke up from his nap- the first words out of his mouth were "happy, not sad"- I think because he knew he wasn't happy and he wasn't feeling well before his nap and also because he really did seem to feel better after napping. He's such a wonderful little boy!

We got to Grandma's house and dove right into the presents. Daniel was very happy to pull presents out from under the tree and help pass them out or if they were for him, he loved ripping right into them. I swear, though, unwrapping all the presents took twice as long just because Daniel had to throw away every little scrap of wrapping paper right then- it didn't matter if the present wasn't all unwrapped yet. Sometimes, he's TOO good about cleaning up! Not that I'm complaining...

Anyway, he asked for help whenever he needed it, but really, he did a great job unwrapping presents mostly on his own. And of course he assumed all presents were for him! But he also loved helping everybody else unwrap their presents, too. Daniel got a flashlight in his stocking and that was a huge hit- he loves flashlights at our house and we're always hunting them down, so now he has his own very easy to find bright blue flashlight...and let me tell you, he carried that flashlight around for quite a bit, even while he was still unwrapping presents. So cute.

Eventually, Daniel wanted to just start playing with the toys and books he had already unwrapped, but we managed to keep him going through all the presents. And when all the presents were unwrapped, he absolutely had a ball playing with many of them! We enjoyed a very yummy dinner, which Daniel ate pretty well, and then it was back to playing with toys new and old before we headed home to get ready for Santa.

Daniel finds presents to pass out.

Daddy helps Daniel open a present.

Here's Daniel with his favorite stocking stuffer...a flashlight!

Daniel carries his flashlight all around with him...
even while finding more presents to open!

Mommy helps Daniel open a present.

Daniel unwraps his new Cars tent!

Daniel LOVES his new Cars tool/sound book!
Thank you Great Grandma Pat and Great Grandpa Bob!

Aunt Wendy helps Daniel hang his new ornament- Daniel told her right where to hang it!

A new bank...another big hit, from Uncle Brad and Aunt Rose!

Bubble wrap is SO much fun to stomp on!

Daniel climbs out of his new tent.

The Christmas fun has only just begun!