A Most Delightful Christmas

 December 19 - 30, 2021

Tombstone, Arizona

Christmas is a special time of year no matter your age, but it is certainly more wonderful celebrated with children!

Last minute stone sealing, gas log installation and wall painting in the living room get done on the 21st giving me a whole day to finish decorating before the kiddos arrive late on the 23rd. We're very happy with the finished build!

Won't miss this :-)

Wish we had the new carpet, but having a completed fireplace is great!

Ezra and Elliott and their parents (and new grand dog Rizer) arrive in the early AM and get settled in the motorhome. They all join us for late breakfast and we start getting caught up. At 6 years old Ezra is very excited about Christmas and what might be in those pretty boxes. It's probably a good thing he only has to wait one day :-) Tradition means opening one present on Christmas Eve and then Mommy and Ezra are off to bed early to make sure Santa doesn't pass us by. Daddy and PopPop play elves, preparing the big surprise. Uncle Jeff is the baby whisperer who can always put them to sleep - because he shows them how it's done :-)

Ezra intent on his Christmas Eve package while Elliott is happy to just run around.

Elliott getting a head start on Christmas treats.

Every kid needs their own roller coaster.

It doesn't take long to go from this....

......to this. zzzzzzz

Surprisingly it's nearly 10 AM before we hear the pitter patter of little feet at the back door. We're so excited to share this special time. Memories of Christmas mornings past, when I was a little girl, and then when these grown men were little boys, remind me how blessed I am.

Giggles and wows and oh-my-goodnesses!

Stockings are opened before we have a quick breakfast. Then hours of presents and playing and delighting in the joy of kids and grands enjoying their goodies and each other. Ezra is happy to play Santa for everyone, proud that he can read all the cards. My face hurts from smiling so much!

Our own Ezra Claus with his stocking.

Christmas PJs add to the festive feeling.

PopPop and Elliott discuss the merits of new toys.

I'm not the only one with lots of smiles.

Surrounded by mountains of wrappings, Elliott sings to his car track.

He cracks himself up :-)

For the second time since we moved into the house, we add the leaf to the dining table for our family Christmas dinner. A spiral ham and all the trimmings add to our holiday. Can't believe I didn't get a pic - it was so pretty :-))

From California the other grands share their fun. We love getting videos and pics when we can't be with them.

Little M sending us big Christmas hugs - wish we could hug him right back!

Big M is excited about his robot - he's so cute with his thanks!

Reese models her new butterfly coat - something her Nawma is convinced she had to have :-)

Love seeing Henry so happy with his tower toy.

Our little tree got really dry, really fast. The day after it stood watch over our celebration I take it down just to be safe. Definitely the shortest "tree time" I've ever had! 

Not long after, Bill gets the text we're expecting - Baby Gravel is coming!!

Oliver Jamison Gravel arrives mid-day - a very special gift for this holiday season. We're all so happy for Corey and Christie, and to add number eight to our growing family.

Welcome precious little boy.

Happily we get to spend a full week with our visiting family. Rizer is a good boy spending most of his time on the back porch or in his crate. He'll grow out of his barking, and he's so good about not digging or trying to get out of what is a strange and giant yard. He's way too much puppy for old lady Tessa so they just avoid each other.

The big kids make a couple trips into Tombstone and Bisbee, leaving the littles with PopPop and Nawma - which we love! They're both such easy and happy boys. 

The rest of the time we spend in two's and three's and all togethers.....

Ezra and PopPop play on Mommy's phone - his reading level is amazing.

Pinning big brother.

Those eyes.....

Ready to ride!

More than one way to play on a coaster :-)

Double duty.

We're all big Mandalorian fans so "child" shirts were a must for Christmas.

Ezra and I take a few hours on our own to explore nearby Gleeson and then check out the decorations in Tombstone. 

Ezra and Mommy build an Oreo house. We all enjoyed a piece on demolition day later in the week!

The sky dazzles.

Drama to the south.

We didn't save much when we downsized to go fulltime. For each of us it was those things we cherished most. One of them for me were my little cowboy boots that I wore as a toddler, as did Brian and Jeff. We never got a chance to have Ezra wear them, but Shalise is great about making sure Elliott gets the opportunity. I'm so grateful to have him continue the little family tradition.

Elliott in Nawma's cowboy boots.

Too cute.

Looking so much older than 2020.

The time goes by way too fast, and soon it's Thursday and they're headed back to California. It's a long drive even with a stop at Shalise's parents', so I'm glad when they are able to get on the road on time. The house is immediately too quiet, we're no longer watching the Disney channel all day, we miss them already.

Soon we'll be focused on finishing the house rebuild again, 2021 will expire, travel planning will kick into gear. But oh what a delightful Christmas we had :-)

We can't wait to meet you Oliver.