Christmas in Phoenix

I love Christmas. I love time with family, I love the chaos, following by the quiet of everyone sleeping, followed by the excitement of the morning. It's especially fun when you're surrounded by little ones, and loved family members.
On Christmas Eve at Eric's place, the day is usually spent with the men playing with the children and the women making last minute preparations. This was the case this year, and I mean all preparations were done last minute, because there wasn't much we could do until then. Me, my aunt, my mother-in-law and my sisters-in-law all took off to Costco - the beloved destination for all things food and festive. We shopped and we shopped and we shopped until half of us wanted too drop. Then, believe it or not (on Christmas Eve), they were out of some things. So we had to make our way to Walmart to shop and shop and shop until the rest of us finally dropped. I even got some things that I was not expecting to come out of there with: some new  makeup, some new clothes for me, and even a small baby sleeper from Costco that I just absolutely fell in love with. (I know, ridiculous. I am not even thinking about children yet, and don't tell Eric, but it had to be done. I couldn't miss out.)
We got home late afternoon and I tell ya, those women never stop. As soon as we got home and got things put away, they had children, and grandchildren and spouses hanging off of them wanting more things from them. They are such great women/soldiers. This Christmas vacation is clearly a marathon, not a sprint.
I paused for a few minutes, but have to confess that I had some last minute things of my own to tend to as well. Eric, his two brothers, a cousin and I all hopped back in the van and headed back to the exact same Walmart I was sick already (slash not actually sick of at all, because I just love USA shopping, no matter where it is).

The evening was spent doing regular Christmas traditional things. The nativity pageant, reading of a great Christmas book, matching pajamas and present wrapping and stocking stuffing until midnight. 

Christmas morning was exactly the same as it's always been, just in a different place. Eric's family puts out all the presents along with the stockings for each person. It's very different with then than it is at my house. They each try to take turns opening presents as well, but with all the little kids in the room that only went so far.

Love this present from my wonderful husband. He's so cute.