Christmas at the Farm

Warning: this post contains LOTS of pictures

This past weekend, we went down to Grandpa & Grandma C's farm to celebrate Christmas with Evia's family. It was such a great weekend. We drove down Friday night at Eli's bedtime and he did much better making the transition from car to bed. Saturday he slept until 7am so we were very happy with that. He, once again, was our little "doodle doo" echoing the rooster. We had a yummy breakfast (pancakes and fresh sausage) and then Eli was let loose outside to play. Boy was he happy with that. He explored everything with Grandpa and oved running around. He got all muddy just as a little boy should. After nap time, we headed to Evia's grandparents to have big dinner and enjoy family time. There was food a plenty, let me tell you! Mom cooked country style steak and rice, Uncle Mike grilled a turkey and pork butts, Aunt Brenda brought chicken. If you went home hungry it was your own fault!! After dinner, we took the requisite family pictures in front of the tree and Eli opened some presents. He really got the hang of ripping paper so Christmas Day should be fun. His Great Aunt Val and family got him a See and Say and some farm tractors. He loved all of them. (Today he's been pushing the tractors around A LOT.) When we got back to my parents house, we did our Christmas with them. Again, Eli had fun tearing into the paper. The first gift he opened was three nerf balls - a football, basketball and a soccer ball. He didn't care about much after that. He's all boy and loves balls and wheeled things. We had a great time playing Christmas before Eli went to bed.

Sunday morning we went to my parents' church. Eli did pretty well to start and loved the children's message provided by puppets. Then he went to children's church with Grandma where they read, colored and made a Christmas ornament. We then went out to eat with my other Grandmother (Huggy Grandma as we lovingly call her) and celebrated with her. Eli was an eating machine at lunch (again) and sampled everything on his place. Grandma even got him an ice cream cone for dessert and he had fun exploring it. It rained all night so once we got back to the farm, Eli didn't get to really run around but Grandma made sure he got to see the animals some more before he left.

We drove home at his bedtime on Sunday and had an easy drive home. We're very fortunate to have family a reasonable drive away and be able to see them on holidays. Although we won't be with them on actual Christmas Day, we will be talking to them and thinking of them all day.

Exploring with Grandpa

In Eli-style, showing off his belly. Notice the resemblance to Grandpa's belly!

Such a sweet boy

Our little tornado - running around happy as can be

One of my favorite pictures - I took this from the kitchen window without them knowing. Eli just sat there with Grandma and Grandpa. I can only imagine their conversation.