The Olson Odyssey: Christmas Cheer!

Another Christmas has come and gone! It is crazy what a whirlwind it is! You spend all the time and effort shopping, wrapping, packing, etc and then in a few hours it is done. All the time and effort was well worth it this year seeing the joy on the boy's faces. We started the shebang out at Chuck and Pattie's on the 23rd. We had a delicious family meal, and the spent the night and woke up on Christmas Eve to lots of presents! The kids got such cool stuff. Highlights were a new fishing pole, working gloves, bubble maker, and a blower! So FUN! Connor got a few new toys that are all his and not hand me downs! Plus tons of cute clothes. I got new bedding and towels after 8 years of marriage! YEAH! We went to the Rose Bowl for some play time at the park and a nice lunch at Brookside. It was SOOOO beautiful outside. We attended Lake Ave's Christmas eve service and the boys did pretty well. Connor did have one laughing spell when it was really quiet:) After church we went to Americana for dinner and it was so beautiful there with all the lights. Papa and GG joined us and that was fun to be with them. After that we headed to Papa and Yaya's house. We spent the night there with the whole family and had a yummy Christmas breakfast and then opened stockings and gifts. Dilly got a new vacuum cleaner and Connor got a fun new toy, and they both got LOTS and LOTS of sweet new clothes. My mom made all the grandkids BEAUTIFUL, cozy blankets. They are so cute and she did such an amazing job! I got an awesome new external hard drive to back my computer up so I NEVER LOSE MY PICTURES! This was high on my list, so I was stoked. Ann, Dan, Ty and Deck were with us this year so that is always fun. After a yummy late lunch we just relaxed and then had friends and family over in the evening. It was an EVENTFUL few days, but super fun. We are so blessed to be surrounded by family and teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas while also have fun Christmas traditions. I loved getting dressed up and going to church and singing Christmas songs and remembering what a gift we received when God sent his Son to us. What a story. One that I will never tire of telling my kids each year when we celebrate Christmas.

Stockings hung with care....