Happy Christmas Post

I love our trips to Oregon for Christmas. Every year is such a whirlwind and it is both over before I know it, and never ending at the same time. I can't really explain it more other than that. We spent one week at each family. But Christmas and Christmas eve are just back and forth days.

 

 Christmas Eve we visited Grandma Pat at the Saponases and did our traditional Daniels Family nativity story evening event. This year the reenactment of the nativity story resurfaced! At least in part.

 Bradley was a Shepard/pirate. His staff quickly turned into a spyglass. And for some reason Brad went "no-bones" on Nate... which was so funny I could have died. Finally he did it to someone else.

 Mary with Baby Jesus (Luke) and her shepard (Brad).

Christmas morning was SO exciting this year. Brad had a clear idea of what he was asking Santa for - A BIG GUN- and he was ready to run out and find it first thing! But mom made us all hang out and re-read the Christmas story (one of the few "traditions" I insist on every year) BEFORE we go see what Santa brought.

 Brad showing Grandma his BIG BUZZ LIGHTYEAR GUN!

We Skyped with Heidi & Deric during some present opening! So we had all our Daniels family together for part of the day! Then we had a rocking awesome breakfast.

Christmas x2 Saponas Style.

Brian has been looking forward to this year ever since we got our dog. Portland came with us to Oregon and we got to have Christmas with her too! Her and two other black labs... JJ and Oliver! It was a dogtastic Christmas!

 All the dogs liked Portland's present from Santa - a squeaky pheasant. There was a little bit if dog pandemonium for a bit there.

 Then Brad opened his fishing set from Aunt Meredith. And there were three wet noses that needed to investigate the suspicious fish.

 Christmas x3. Daniels finish opening presents!

 The coolest shirt ever from Uncle Nate. hahaha.

 Okay I had planned and PLANNED  to have the boys in matching shirts for Christmas. And this is the only pic I have to show for it. Trust me, they were adorable. And matched.

Goodbye Dinner.

One of my fave new traditions we seem to do is have all the grandparents together the night or so before we leave. It is really cool that both my families like spending this time toghether because I think it is a really special time for Brad and Luke. Grandparent palooza!

 And FINALLY Grandma Saponas got to spend some time with Luke. Poor Grandma didn't hardly see her grandkiddos because she was taking care of Great Grandma. But at least we got to spend a nice evening together. Luke enjoyed playing with Grandma.

Love you all family. I loving going home for Christmas. I'm going to miss it when the day comes that we need to stay at house for Christmas. This year was SO FUN!