{christmas morn....numero dos}

We headed up to my parents for our second Christmas extravaganza with much excitement. My parents had been talking about the surprise couples gift (someday Eric. he still got a gift as well) that they were so excited about. I couldn't wait! I had guessed many things. For one, I thought they were giving Jake and myself some new pots, since my mother commented about how horrible mine were when she visited in October. Two, I thought a new TV. Only for a short while because Eric and I unwrapped one that was in the basement that we found out later was Dan's. So this left me puzzled as to what they had gotten us.
So we went on with our Christmas morning. Luke was not so in to opening anything. He would just aimlessly crawl around and grab something and play with it. Nolan was starting to get the whole idea. So he would rush to get one present after another.
Every present that came if it wasn't a car or something similar to a car he would throw it down and run to the next present. He was so devastated to find no cars in any of the presents. And we were so mean to rip him from his new toys that morning to come and do more family stuff. I remember as a kid I didn't want to go anywhere. All I wanted to do was play with my new stuff. Sorry buddy!
The boys got great stuff regardless of if it were a car. My parents did a really great idea this year for the theme they were going for. They really stuck to the gospel on a lot of things. We received many wonderful emergency preparedness stuff that we would have never purchased on our own. We got this sweet car scraper that has a built in glove! Perfect for the bitterly cold mornings in Wisconsin.



I got a new jacket and to be honest, I don't really remember what Jake got. There was so much stuff I could barely keep things straight.
For my parents this year we decided to go in on a gift. I couldn't have been more excited to give them their stuff. My mom got a new running shirt that is so perfect for colder conditions. Kim was the perfect one to find it. And for my dad I thought we should give him a new guitar strap. We went to his favorite store and found the perfect one! It was the Beatles revolver strap! My dad was smiling with delight when he opened it. He immediately went and got his electric guitar and put it on and started playing while we all finished opening presents.
Then there was the big present that Kim was so patiently waiting for Dan to open. It was the perfect surprise. Kim had used her own cash to get Dan a flat screen TV. He kind of had an idea about it because Charlie went up to him and said, "dad, we got a new TV" a few days ago. But Dan brushed it aside and didn't think much else of it because there was no proof that she purchased it.
So Kim came out with this huge wrapped gift and Dan was dying!!! It was the perfect gift. He was so excited. Way to go Kim. I can't believe you kept it a secret.
So finally it was the final gift, the couples gift. My parents said we needed to head in to the spare bedroom. So we walk inside only to find three of the most beautiful paintings!!! Each of us got our own Greg Olsen painting. Kim got the "oh Jerusalem", Eric got "the sacred garden", and we got "in his love" (I think that's what is was called). It was a picture of Christ with a little boy looking up at him. It was the most perfect Christmas!!! The paintings and frames were beautiful! And to top it off the paintings were signed from the artist himself. So cool!! I really can't wait for mine to come. Mom, you better hurry up on that. I know just where to put it!
This Christmas was amazing, as always. But I really appreciated the spiritual side that my parents were thinking of. Who knew getting emergency preparedness stuff would be so cool. Thanks mom and dad!