The Joy of Being Grandparents

George and I absolutely love being grandparents.  Our favorite past time is to watch our grandchildren in all of their activities.  This past weekend, we went to Orlando to watch Brady and Jenna in some of their activities.  Brady had made us promise to come and watch him play basketball since we had gone several times to watch Carter play football.  You could just feel his enthusiasm out on the floor!

The night before the game, Brady had a loose front tooth.  I can't tell you how many of my own children, plus the neighborhood children's teeth I have pulled.  (Must be how we got two dentists in the family.)  Anyway, I tried my tried-and-true method, but it only got it partially out, and he wouldn't let me try again.  It was driving everyone around him crazy to see it so loose, but he refused to let anyone near it.  Finally, Carter saved the day and told Brady to continually twist it, which he did, and it fell out.  So Grandpa George took him for his favorite treat at the donut shop. 

Next, we got to go to Jenna's Cheer Exhibition.  I don't know how many teams were there, but a bunch.  I took a video which shows what a fantastic team Jenna is on.  She is one of the three girls on the team who does the back hand springs.  We were so impressed. 

As you can see, they are so precise and together.  They qualified to go to the competition held at Disney World. 

What a sweet and talented young lady Jenna is!  We are so proud of her!

After returning back to Jacksonville, I went with Jeff and Amy's family to the lighting of the tree in Green Cove.  It was a cool night, so it almost felt like we were in the mountains.  With that coolness and all the festivities and family, it really was a nice way to start the Christmas season. 

 

A Thanksgiving Christmas

One final big event when the five children, their spouses, and the 14 grandchildren came for Thanksgiving, was holding an early Christmas for the grandchildren.  This has become a yearly tradition.  The older grandchildren, Grandma Laura, and some of the mothers get up at 4:30 a.m. for Black Friday deals.  Then after getting the older kids the items they want, we go to breakfast.  (We were really missing our two buddies, Connor and Kade, this year!)



The older kids go home, and then we take the younger kids.  They all choose what they want, but everything is still wrapped.  (There are always a few surprises, too!) 

This year, with Black Friday really starting Thursday night, we took the younger kids with us first at 10:30 p.m., and then of course, they wanted to go home.  They'd had enough of the craziness.  



But the two that stayed and lasted in a giant line, in the cold--yes, it was really cold!--until Target opened at midnight--and then orchestrated the entire process of where to go in the store--was Carter and Ethan.  We could have never done it without them!  They were just fantastic and so fun to be with!




 The next day in the evening, we had Christmas dinner and then opened the presents.  It is always so fun!  

Call it the "school teacher" in me, but here I am giving all the instructions before we begin.  We always start with the youngest on up so that everyone can enjoy seeing what the others received. 

Amy passing out all the gifts. 

Everyone takes their gifts to their individual places. 

Little Gavin is first.

I think it's safe to say that Gavin loved his Cars' racetrack, but I think he will definitely have a buddy at all times when he plays with it.  Mason loves it, too!

Next was little Cannon's turn.  Ella wanted to help her mom open his present for him.  He was sleeping at the time.

A warm sweater and hat will be great for the cold weather they would be going back to in Washington.

Now, it's Riley's turn.

Besides loving anything to do with Cars--the movie, Riley, also, loves airplanes.

Mason, is up next.  He, also, gets something to do with Cars.  Can you tell these three little boys are all obsessed with Cars and play with them continually in Dallas?

Mason giving Grandpa George a big hug and thank you.

Lola had been waiting so patiently on Grandpa George's lap.  Now, it was her turn.

I loved how all the kids were so interested in what the other one got.

Lola had to show Papa what she got.  She was one happy little girl!

Is she really mine? 

Yes, she loves this present.

Ella opened her present and gave Papa a big hug and a smile.

Isaac's turn.

This is a remote-controlled car.  He's never had one before, but soon he was maneuvering it like a pro!

Brady is next.

Brady still has his bands on from the zoo.  He loved the zoo and wanted to go back as soon as he could. 

Jaxon loves anything to do with sports--specifically, sports clothing.

After seeing his new Gator shirt, Jaxon must have folded it four or five times until he had it perfectly folded.  Every morning he has his team sports clothing laid out before he goes to school.  He is very organized! 

See what I mean?  This was probably 10 minutes later.

Now comes Garrett.

Garrett, also, got a remote-controlled car.

Garret got a combined birthday and Christmas gift.

Now comes Ethan.

He, also, got a combined birthday and Christmas present which was a game for his X-box. 

Sydney is next.

I had never seen one of these before, but it turned out to be so fun!

Jenna was so cute.  She had requested a special item which I thought I had for her.  It turned out to be the wrong thing, but she still was so gracious and acted so excited.  I told her we could easily exchange it, and she was happy about that. 

Now a few surprises for the girls which they opened together.

Last the best of all the game, right?  Carter was such a gentleman to be the very last one. 

Monday, George and I had to go back to work, but some of the family went to Chuck-e-Cheese for a few hours.

 

And then, all too soon, everyone left their several ways to go home.  It was certainly a whirl-wind week, but we loved having so many together.  Next year, we're hoping to get all seven children's families together at Thanksgiving.  It has been way too long since we've all be together.

This Thanksgiving will be one we will always remember, for sure.  We are so thankful for so many blessings the Lord has given us--right at the top is the wonderful family that we have.