We stayed home for Christmas this year instead of traveling to the Midwest.  This was the first year that we hosted anyone for the holiday as Nana and her friend Bill drove up from the Keys to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us.

We had a real Christmas tree this year and Grant was heavily involved in decorating the tree and the house this year.  Jenna seemed very intrigued by the tree and the ornaments.

In preparation for their visit, I broke out the cookbook from my Grandma Dungan and made 3+ dozen of her sugar cookies.  Grant helped me make and decorate them and we were sure to put a couple of cookies and milk out for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Nana and Bill arrived about 4:00 on Christmas Eve and we were able to hang out at the house before going to a Christmas Eve service at Trinity United Methodist Church.  It was a lovely service for children and we were able to get a quick family picture outside after the service.

After the service, we returned home and enjoyed a lovely crock pot meal that Carol had prepared.  And enjoyed a few of the cookies that I had baked.  Grant was actually excited to go to bed that night because he knew that Santa would be coming after we were all asleep.

Christmas morning found Grant awake and ready to check the stockings at 7am, which is his normal time to get up.  It probably would have been earlier but we told he had to wait until at least 7.  And 7:00, on the dot, it was.  Grant found that Santa had indeed visited us and left us gifts in our stockings and by the fireplace.

Nana and Bill joined us at the house after breakfast and then the gift opening began.  The gift opening went on for what seemed like hours.  Jenna got tired mid-way through and had to go down for a nap so she finished her present opening after lunch.  I told Grant that with all his presents, he “hit the mother load” and he said, “no I didn’t, I hit the kid load”.  Regardless, he got a lot of great gifts this year.  Thanks to everyone who mailed us gifts!!

Jenna also got some super cute stuff!

Grant loved all his gifts!

Carol received some very nice gifts.  I also appreciate the gifts that I received, though I am not pictured with any of them since I was the one holding the camera.

I even got a couple of pictures of Nana and Bill opening presents as well.

It was indeed a very Merry Christmas this year.  We enjoyed having company to spend the holiday with.  We hope that you all had a very good Christmas this year and will have a blessed 2014.  To end this post, I want to share a song performed by Carol at one of her choir concerts this year.  The sound isn’t great because she recorded it on her phone, which was hidden under her chair, but I still think she sounds good.  She is singing “Little Drummer Boy”, which was one of her Dad’s favorite Christmas songs.  I hope you enjoy it.