Merry Christmas to All

Christmas morning we were blessed to sleep in until 8:00am.  Jake one was the first awake.  He came in to ask me if it was morning time yet.  When I told him yes, he left the room to go get dressed, like any normal day of the week.  A few moments later, I heard his little feet running on the tile and my door quickly pushed open.  With excitement he exclaimed that Santa had been here and there were lots of presents!  Next he woke up each of his brothers who also quickly scampered from their rooms to the tree to see the marvels for themselves.

First they each opened their stocking and went through each item with careful, but quick inspection.

Next, Derek passed out the Santa gifts.  Each boys gets 3, just like the wise men brought to Jesus.

They each received a pillow pet (this year most sought after toy for boys and girls from 2 to 20) and they got an iPod touch to share.

Derek also received a ticket to the Christmas Day football game: Dallas Cowboys vs Arizona Cardinals.

Jake was ecstatic to open his set of Zhu Zhu pets.

Carsen received a stash of Lego Star Wars sets and mini figures.

Once all the gifts were opened and the most exciting were played with, it was time to head to Randi & Mike's for the Rodgers family celebration.

Randi was trying to figure out how to skype through Mike's iPod...then through the TV with Ryan's family while others of us started making brunch. We had coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, sausage, juice, milk, cocoa, fruit...and bologna. You have to be a Rodgers to know what that really means...and that when asked on holidays if you like bologna to say "Yes!"

During the making and eating of the food, Mike turned on one of the new movies Randi bought for Christmas, "How to Train a Dragon".  The kids all loved it...good choice. About half-way through the movie we pressed pause and started our gift exchange. This year we changed it up again. We were missing some key parts to the family; Wendy & Michael, Ryan's family and Carlys. The past few years we have been doing a gift card exchange white elephant style. The adults were $25 each and the kiddos did a separate exchange with $10 cards each. It was always fun to see where people got cards from and then to try and steal the card you really wanted.

We decided since we are wanting to do another family trip (like the cabin trip, but not at Christmas time), we would each put our $50 towards a vacation rental of some type instead. Regina is going to open an account to place the money in until we decide for sure what, where, when, etc. And instead of buying birthday presents for each other this year and next (I vote from now on) we will put whatever money we would have spent into the vacation account. Whoever wants to participate can...and Regina is the money keeper.

We still wanted to do something fun on Christmas, so we agreed to do an adult/kid white elephant gift exchange with everyone. $10 was the limit.  A lot of items weren't stolen, but some were taken the max two times towards the end. I don't remember the exact order, but here's the basics of our exchange.

I went for the biggest box. It was a package from Regina. This time it was "Cardinal Badminton"...too funny. I was smart and talked Hayden into stealing it from me later in the game.

Another funny gift from Regina's family was a "Wiggles" themed box. It had a "Wiggles" movie and blanket inside...Bill was the lucky recipient. I have a feeling the "Wiggles" box will be making the rounds again next Christmas...and probably the next.

Jake picked a flashlight...which was then stolen by Hayden.

Jake's next selection had a tropical theme...the box contained a Hawaiian shirt, coconut glass and a necklace.

Brooklyn chose a good gift...a version of the game "Scene It".

Dad selected his own contribution- a Coldstone gift card. Raelynn seemed happy with his choice. Funny enough, she also chose her contribution- another Coldstone gitft card.

Savannah picked a box of See's candy suckers.

Robyn stole Dad's Coldstone card...so he picked another gift from under the tree. He picked a box of "stress relief". It had a stress ball and some other assorted items...including a fart sounds key chain. Not sure how that's supposed to be "stress relief", but it is definitely a boys gift. My dad looked thrilled. Luckily Carsen stole that immediately. So Dad ended up with the pack of coasters that look like a spill.

Sydney chose a bag with a self-hypnosis book inside. We got a good laugh out of that one. I still don't know who that was from...must be from Regina's fam.

Billy stole Hayden's flashlight...so Hayden stole my Cardinal Badminton.

I then chose some sort of iPod music player...pretty cool and my favorite color.

Anthony chose a DQ gift card...

...which was promptly stolen by Derek.

Anthony chose again and took Raelynn's Coldstone gift card. This did not make her very happy...at first. We tried to tell her that Robyn had the another Coldstone gift card and that she could steal it...instead of stealing it, she made sure Robyn would be willing to take her to Coldstone with that card...and then chose another gift from under the tree. She was very happy when she opened her box and found Toy Story 2 inside.

Randi chose a box with Toy Story inside. It was a good addition to her collection.

Trent chose a card reader Randi put in.

Mike chose the best gift of all. Seriously. It means nothing to him, but it means everything to me...or to any one of the original Rodgers. My parents went to a white elephant gift exchange in the early 80's (83 to be exact). My mom came home with the strangest gift, but she thought it was hysterical. She placed it on a shelf in our family room on display and it was always there. Regina ended up with it...until now. It's a jar of "pickled butts". I am so jealous and Randi is so excited to have the jar at her house now!! I thought it was so cool of Regina to share it with one of us. I don't think I would have parted with it. It's just one of those stupid, funny, inside jokes we are all in love with. I have threatened to sneak in and steal it while she is at work!

Miss McKenna selected her own gift!! Her idea was so cute!! It was a "snowball fight in a box". At the end, it became a snowball fight in my living room...it was a lot of fun!!

We had a nice time together...even though we really missed our missing pieces.

At 3 the Grossarth's headed to see the rest of their family and Dad headed over to Gilbert to see Grandma Joyce.

About 4 O'clock Derek and Anthony, along with the Hawkins crew headed out to go to the football game.

Raelynn & I took Carsen and Jake to see Yogi Bear when Randi & Mike headed out to the Buvala's.  We had a great time and it made my heart smile to hear Raelynn belly laugh throughout the entire movie.

We are so blessed in our family.  Each day is hard, especially with my crazy boys, but I thank the Lord for the birth of my Savior, because he makes it possible for me and my family to truly have everything.