Christmas with Gracie was a blast this year. She was so funny because when it came time to open our Christmas presents she looked confused since we told her she could not touch the presents in the days leading up to Christmas. Once we told her it was all right to open them her face lit up with excitement.

Gracie received a Leap Frog learning system with books she could change out, a mega color doodling pad and three Blue’s Clues DVDs just to name a few. I gave her a Dora the Explorer bathtub toy. She is really into Dora the Explore right now and she just loved it.

After we opened our Christmas gifts, my mom, Dad, Maw-Maw, Gracie and I enjoyed pancakes and bacon. YUM!!! As you can imagine after we ate Gracie headed off for her new toys.

Later on Christmas evening we all headed over to my Aunt Jo’s home for a turkey feast with all the trimmings. To end the feast I had my favorite dessert, cheesecake. Gracie was too excited playing with our three cousins to eat her turkey.

My aunt’s home was loud with four children under the age of four running around all knowing what would be coming very soon. More presents!!! Until then Gracie and Nathan played with the new toys Jack and Meleah had received earlier that morning.

Once we all finished stuffing ourselves and cleaning the kitchen we all headed into the living room to open Christmas presents. I helped sort out the mountain of gifts as each of my cousins and Gracie waited in anticipation to dive in to their gifts. Finally the time came and Christmas paper and tissue paper flew everywhere as each one tore into their gifts.

One of the greatest things about this Christmas was we had a special treat because my Uncle Andy and Aunt Maria from Ohio and my Uncle Earl from Florida were in. My Nana was recently diagnosis with Alzheimer and they all decided to fly in and spend this Christmas with their mom. We all received another special treat better then anything we could receive under a Christmas tree and that was my Nana knew who everyone was and you could see the joy shining off her face as she had five of her seven children and their families all joined together for this special time of year. That I am sure was my families greatest gift. I know it was mine.