Christmas 2011.. Sleepless, but SoOoOo worth it

It all started Christmas Eve.... Derek and I got up at 8am because Derek had to clean  the church building. We came home and opened our presents to each other. I burned Derek a CD that said "Our love songs on it" he was so confused when he say it. Then he put it in the computer and found out it was the Foo fighters greatest hits cd that he had wanted. 

I received a massager and two pairs of running shoes that I love

Dereks big gift this year was a 3 wood golf driver that he has been saying he needed. I knew it would be awkward to wrap and he would know what it was so I played the whole Christmas Story thing and hide it in the corner of our apartment till the very end and told him "What is that in the corner"! 

After presents we finished packing and at 3pm we walked to the light rail. We then rode the light rail to the airport shuttle, then shuttled to the airport. We left 3 hours before our flight because we thought it would take a while with us walking and riding the light rail. Plus we thought there would be a lot of airport traffic since it was Christmas Eve. 

It took us exactly an hour to get from our house door to our departure gate!!! No time at all. We got a frosty and sat and watched the Cowboys game for then next two hours waiting to board our plane. 

 Once we got to Burbank California (by the way it is the best flight EVER...only an hour! ) Morgan had no clue we were coming. She was told she was giving service and picking up Sister Fletcher's sister at the airport. She was so mad she had to give service, but once she saw us she was so shocked and surprised! Of course everything was closed on Christmas Eve, except El Presidente in LA. We ate a very good Mexican Christmas Eve dinner. 

 After dinner we got home, got changed, and got ready for bed. Morgan put out cookies for Santa. She asked a lot of questions about Santa this year.....but she was still a believer. We will see if she is next year! 

 Morgan went to bed and my mom, Derek and I got to work on wrapping out presents for everyone. Morgan stayed up with excitement till about midnight. 

After all was at rest I went around the house and took pictures of Christmas pasts. I kind of feel like I am at this point in life where Christmas is starting to change and I want to remember the times when I was a child at my parents house! 

 I love my parents house at Christmas....LOVE IT! Why because it is home! Words can not describe how wonderful it was to wake up Christmas morning to this beautiful tree! 

 We were all up by 6am Christmas morning. Morgan on the other hand woke up my mom at 4:30am with excitement! That girl got no sleep! This year Morgan's big present along with my mom and dad was there new bikes. With my parents retiring they hope to be at the beach "cruising" a lot. 

 My mom got a kindle to also help her with all of her free time once she retires in March. 

 Derek got lots of golf balls ever ones with his name on them! I received a lot of neat things that i needed. Sports bras, flip flops, and dodgers purses! It was a great Christmas at my mom's house. Morgan also got a light saber that everyone loved playing with. 

Probably the most popular toy Morgan received this year that she talked about wanting over and over again was the go go walking puppy. Yes a puppy that walks on a leash. 

 My dad got lots of clothes and bike accessories. 

 After presents we had the Anderson family breakfast tradition. Cinnamon rolls and orange rolls. We always have these, and it wouldn't be Christmas with our them! 

After breakfast we all got ready for our long day. I love doing Morgan's hair! She has by far the most BEAUTIFUL hair! It is thick and full and just beautiful! 

 Our first stop of the day was going up to Tehachipi and visit at Sam and Shauna's house. There we found out that EVERYONE got go go walking puppies.... Imagine that!

 This was the first time Derek and I have ever been to Sam and Shauna's and they have a beautiful home! 

 This year for Christmas the girls all got dolls from Derek and I. Sam received a pretty cool gift.....He opened it up and instantly started laughing and looked at me and said "you are so getting shot by this!" He received a rubber band gun. The story behind it is this..... when Sam was about 5 or 6 he got one for Christmas. He was told after opening it that we don't shoot people and if he did it would get burned in the fireplace. That Christmas day (probably within hours of receiving) Sam shot me. I of course cried and then Sam cried because it went straight into the fireplace!!!! I guess my dad was not joking! At the AV fair this past year we saw these guns and my mom and dad looked at each other and right away bought it for Sam. I guess they felt he was responsible enough now not the shoot people with it! 

 This year for AVa's birthday she received a motorcycle and then got gear for Christmas so of course I had to get a picture of her riding it! She is such a cutie! 

 After Tehachapi we went to Spend time with Derek's mom and rick. Then I took off to Valencia and Derek stayed with his family (hence the reason I have pictures of my family and not his!) At Aunt Marla's we had a blast with cousins and family. 

 At Aunt Marla's we do $20.00 white elephant gifts and it is always so much fun. And we play the game where you can get a new gift or steal someone else's it is so fun! 

 My mom received a beanie and of course it made its was to Morgan's head with in minutes! 

 Derek wasn't there but he still gave out one of the best gifts... a air soft gun! It was a good gift and Nicholas ended up with it! 

 At about 9pm I made my way back to Derek's family and hung out with everyone. This year we did secret santa's. I got Rick a gift card and Michaela got me make-up. Derek got Andrew golf shoes and Derek received a heart rate monitor and a golf video. We got Jade a gift card and Wyatt a basketball hoop which looks like he has already out grown! 

After Derek's family we went home and got packed. It wasn't till about 12pm that I went to bed. We then got up at 4am and made our way to the airport with my dad. Derek went down because he was getting picked up at the airport by his dad. I then got into Phoenix at 9:30 ish and made my way straight to Costco for an 8 hour shift. It was such a tiring sleepless weekend, but it was so worth ever minute to spend time with my Morgan and family! It was a great Christmas!