Christmas Eve at Ferrell Farm

After we left my parent's Christmas gathering, we headed back out to the farm.  This is our second Christmas since moving to the farm.  Kinda cool to be able to say that.

The boys were so excited.  I hadn't put any presents under the tree.  It was baren underneath.  The boys had been bugging me about the presents . . . where are the presents?  Now they knew they would finally see the gifts! 

We open presents from each other on Christmas eve.  I know that's not the normal way to do Christmas, but we have so much to do on Christmas morning . . . Santa . . . breakfast . . . and then we have to be in Ponotoc for the Ferrell Christmas by lunchtime . . . so it helps to open the gifts from each other on Christmas eve.  It gives the boys lots of time to play with their gifts before leaving for Pontotoc.

Of course, I was not a cool gift giver. :D

They were so excited until they saw a trend with the presents from me.

The first gift for the boys were their Christmas pajamas.  I think universally, everyone gets pajamas on Christmas eve.  I know my sister and I did when we were young.

Look at their faces.  Okay.  Pajamas.  This next present has got to be something better.

I mean really look at their faces. . .  so dejected. . . . More clothes . . .

At least it's camo . . .

Even Shane wasn't exempt from receiving clothes from Momma . . .

Well maybe not totally . . . Afterall, he's only 3 years old . . . He should get some toys from Momma . . .

A children's Nativity set . . .

After all, the real reason for celebrating Christmas is the birth of Christ.  I hope this Nativity set will help Shane understand the story of Jesus' birth and the real meaning of Christmas.

A Toy story game . . .

About this time, I started hearing, "Why is Shane getting toys and we're just getting clothes?" and "Give me one of the good presents, pleeeeeze."  Really.  I'm not making this up.

And they wonder why Shane is getting all the toys. . . .

More pajamas . . . underwear . . .  They've gotten resolved to the fact that Santa is their only hope for the presents they really want.  More pajamas for Shane . . .

Pajama bottoms for Daddy . . .

Pretty bracelet and scarf for Momma . . .

The last gift is from Daddy to Alex . . . He was so excited!  A tank magazine!  Just what he wanted!

He totally did not have a clue . . . He genuinely was so happy with a tank magazine.  Hugged Dave . . .

So thankful for a tank magazine, not realizing that what he was holding was not a tank magazine . . . but really an owner's manual for a remote control tank!  I finally showed him where his real gift was sitting.

At this point, Zach had disappeared into his room.  He was so disappointed that all he got was clothes.  I told him to come back in the living room, and he could play the Wii before going to bed.

And then he hears the ringtone . . . from behind the couch. . . .   What was that sound?

Could it be?  Did his Daddy grant his wish . . . his one Christmas wish?

Of course . . . just what he wanted . . . a cell phone . . .

All the presents have been opened and now it's late.  So before we go to bed, the Ferrell boys have to sprinkle the reindeer food out on the front lawn.

We have to leave Santa some cookies and milk, and his reindeer some carrots. . .

Notice the Little Debbie snack cakes.  I had saved one Christmas cookie for Santa . . . one of those iced sugar cookies.  Shane ate it after I put it on the plate . . . when I wasn't looking.  So I had to leave Santa some snack cakes.  Hopefully, he will be tired of cookies when he gets to the Ferrell home.

Look at that sweet face.  Again when I wasn't looking, Shane stole one of the carrots.  We found it the next day in the Christmas tree!  He's obsessed with the Christmas tree.  I find all kinds of things shoved into it.
Also, check out the chocolate around his mouth . . . he ate one of the Little Debbie chocolate snack cakes too!

We had a great Christmas eve!  The boys were so thrilled with their gifts.  We were all excited about Christmas morning!

Even me . . . but especially the Ferrell boys.