Christmas with Pops, Mimi, and GG!

We had an early Christmas celebration this past weekend with our Little Rock grandparents.  Pearce was so excited for everyone to get here!  GG got here Thursday afternoon and Pops and Mimi came later that day.  They came bearing lots of gifts and it was all Pearce could do to wait until Saturday to open them....but he was very patient :)  GG did let Pearce open one gift which was a plant that he got to plant....hopefully we will keep it alive!  We enjoyed visiting that night and had a BBQ dinner.  Friday we went to Phil's Ice House for lunch and to play.  We always comment about how Pearce always makes a friend or two to play with wherever he goes, which makes me so happy to see.  We came back to the house and just had fun watching Pearce play and be silly.  We took the grandparents that night to drive around and look at Christmas lights, which Pearce really enjoys.  Chris made chili for us on Saturday and we decided that since Pearce had been soooo patient waiting to open his gifts, we would let him open his Saturday afternoon and the adults would open theirs after dinner.  Pearce had a pile of presents that he was practically drooling over!  He got so many nice things from his grandparents....Pops and Mimi got him the cutest cowboy boots, western shirt, and wrangler jeans!  Oh my gosh, he looks adorable in it all!  They also got him Scrabble Junior which we discovered is the perfect game for him to learn all of his letters and sounds.  Pearce has really started loving board games, so this game was perfect!  Pops also gave Pearce a sock filled with coins, LOL!!!  Pops said he would just empty his change every night and was able to fill up a big sock with the coins....Pearce said he can't wait to take it to the bank and spend it all....which he totally will!  GG gave him a portable DVD player that is going to come in so handy for car trips since Pearce doesn't have his iPad anymore.  She also gave him a great collection of new movies!  He also got a fun collection of Star Wars bubble bath and a Star Wars Snuggie...perfect for snuggling up to watch a show!  His favorite toy from GG was an army playset and a container of little army guys....he LOVES these tiny army guys!  We all loved watching Pearce open his gifts and I'm so thankful for grandparents who like to spoil our little guy with fun things.  Thank you Pops, Mimi, and GG for all of the nice things you got our little Pearce!  Later that evening, we had the best chili that Chris made and then it was time for our gifts to each other.  Pearce was "Santa" and passed out our gifts.  We all got some really nice things!  I got a gift set of perfume that I had been wanting, Beautiful.  I LOVE this perfume!!!!  I had forgotten how wonderful nice perfume is...LOVE it!!!  GG also surprised me with the cutest pajamas and slippers....she knows how much I love cute new pajamas!!  She also gave me a skin care set from Lancôme that I am loving!!!  I told Pops and Mimi that I was really wanting some new bedding since ours has gotten pretty worn out.  I decided that I would love a duvet cover so that it would be easy to wash...I've learned that washing a full sized comforter is not fun or easy.  So, they gave me a gift card to Pottery Barn and I wasted no time at all getting my new bedding.  I went the next day and the lady there helped me decide on what to get and I just LOVE it!!!!  I've never had really nice bedding and it just feels so good to walk into our room and see our bed looking so pretty.  I also changed a few things on my night stand to make my side match the bedding a little better.  I love how it turned out!!!  Mimi also gave me a fun makeup kit from Ulta.....she knows my heart, LOL!!!!  Chris got some gift cards for new clothes which he is needing badly since a lot of his clothes are too big now!  He also got a sound machine from GG that is really relaxing to have....Pearce said his favorite sound is the rain :)  He also got a charger/organizer station for our phones.  It's really cool because it has several slots for iPhones and iPads and keeps them all nice and organized while being charged.  Thank you Pops, Mimi, and GG for all of our gifts....you all definitely spoiled us, as well!!!!  Thank you, also, for making the drive to see us and spend an early Christmas with us.  We love you all so much and can't wait to see you again soon!!!!

Apparently this is a shirt that goes WAY back....I think it was Cliff's years and years ago and now it gets gifted back and forth between them.....so funny!!!!

Christmas activities 2016

 We started decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  Pearce was so excited to get everything out and help!  We started with the tree.  The tree took FOREVER, but I love how it always turns out!  GG brought Pearce a special wand that magically turns the tree off and on.  It is so adorable!  Our elf, Jerry, brought Pearce a special box with a new pair of Christmas pajamas.  After we decorated the inside of our house, we put the lights up outside and I must say, our house looks pretty festive!  We love driving around neighborhoods and pointing out who's a party pooper and who is not :)  There's one neighborhood street that has the 12 Days of Christmas theme going on, so I took Pearce and he loved getting out and walking around looking at all the lights and decorations.   Last week, we met Heather and Claire for a candy cane flashlight hunt at Santa's Jingle House.  It was so fun!  All the kids were dressed in their Christmas pajamas and Pearce got tons of candy canes.  We were supposed to bring a bag to collect the candy canes in and at first I just got a grocery sack, then I thought about Pearce's stocking that Mama made him.....the perfect thing to collect candy canes!  They also had tables set up with cookies and juice.  It was a really fun night!  We've also gone to see Santa!  We went to a new place this year...Bass Pro and it was awesome!!!  There were all kinds of kids activities to do and Santa's Wonderland was decorated so cute!  Pearce knew exactly what he was going to ask Santa:  Scooby Doo's Pirate Fort Mega Set and the Imaginext Shark Ship.  When it was Pearce's turn, he walked right up to Santa and started talking.  Santa later told me "Well, I can tell Pearce has thought a lot about what he wants."  Then he turned to Pearce and said "I will see what I can do to get you those toys."  He was the BEST Santa ever and took time to talk to all the little kids.  Plus, the picture AND the cute frame were both free!  We met some other friends there and went to eat dinner at the café and then Pearce wanted to look at the animals and fish and almost 3 hours later, we went home!  It was really fun!  We also gave out our first Christmas gift....to Wally, our favorite shop dog ever!  Pearce picked out a bone for him and then we went to the mailing store where he stays and Pearce asked Mr. Mike, Wally's owner, if Wally could have the bone.  Wally was already at Pearce's feet drooling :)  Then, Mr. Mike gave Pearce a bag of gummy worms from Wally.  It was so sweet....Pearce just adores Wally!  On the last day of school before the holiday break, Pearce's class got to wear their pajamas to school and decorate gingerbread houses.  I volunteered to help the class with the gingerbread houses and it was so much fun to see Pearce's sweet class work on these.  I just love Mrs. B. and how she manages her class.  The kids were all so sweet and well behaved and just had the best time!  I took Pearce to the Round Rock drive thru light display and we had so much fun!  I always let Pearce ride in the front seat and look out the window, which he always thinks is cool :)  After we drove through the display, we went to eat at Cracker Barrel.  Pearce saw the big checkers set and really wanted to get it, so we did...perfect set to play on the table!  Pops and Mimi first taught Pearce how to play and he's actually really good!   We have really had a fun holiday season.....love this time of year!!