Christmas Day 2013

We spent Christmas here in Florida, with just our little family.

The night before, Jordan and I worked on preparing the stockings and a few toys that needed assembling.

Here are the stockings 'laid' with care, as well as a princess castle set that Granny and Papa gave Lily for Christmas. 

Here is the tree with all the presents. This year, Jordan and I bought them one 'big' gift and then smaller gifts, most of them used.

The kids woke up around 7:30am and the Christmas morning began. Cinnamon rolls were in the oven, Christmas music was going and it was an exciting time for all of us.

We would open a few gifts and then the kids would want to play with them. We'd let them play for as long as they liked and then we'd move onto more presents.

Our dear friend, Candler, always gives Jordan something weapon related for Christmas; BB gun, machete. This year was no different, a blow dart gun. The kids thought it was a 'toot gun' because of the noise it makes when Jordan blows in it. The neighborhood kids love it. :)

Here is Rob trying out the toot gun.... they would die in laughter after every single blow.

Granny and Papa gave the kids these cardboard blocks by Melissa and Doug. They love it. They can build all kinds of things, knock them down, throw them and no one can get hurt since they are hollow.

The big present of the day was a mini trampoline that we put up in the bonus room. Our good friends, the Hoyle's, had one in their basement in Ohio and the kids always had a good time on it. We got our's from Sam's Club for $139 and it's been used every single day since Christmas day. Need to burn off some energy? Go upstairs and jump. Need to scream and be wild? Go upstairs and jump. Works every time.

This was taken right after lunch, still more presents to be opened and so many toys to be played with. After nap time, we were invited to go over to our next door neighbor's house to spend Christmas dinner with them and their extended families. We were welcomed with open arms! The kids had a blast, the food was delicious and there was a white elephant game that was a riot! I was so grateful to the Calamela family, without them, it would have been a somewhat lonely Christmas day for our family.

Here is the gift that Jordan's sister Dawn gave us - Spooning since 2005 with two spoons, mounted on a board. I've already had compliments on it!

One of the gifts the Eve's sent us, was their family picture. It sits right next to all my stuff. It's lovely to see them everyday!

After the day was done and the kids were in bed, a bit of sadness set in for me. I missed my friends and family in Ohio. The homesickness has gotten easier, but it's still there. I am thankful for the new friends we've met that help me feel more at 'home' here in Florida.