Christmas part 2 of 4-Mimi and Pappy's house!

Christmas with my mom and stepdad was on Christmas Eve. We woke up Christmas Eve morning to snow, which is extremely rare in Oklahoma. Not only was it snow but underneath the snow was ice, which is extremely COMMON in OK, that's usually all we ever get here in the wintertime. It wasn't just snowing though, it was a blizzard with 40+mph winds. We got around at my dad's and began our trip to my mom's. What usually takes no more than 15 minutes took us over an hour that day. There were times during the journey that we experienced a white-out with the snow blowing so hard that all we could see was white and not the road, not anything. It was extremely scary. We made it safely though and not without Brandon witnessing his dad help someone get their car unstuck. It was a very touching moment for me because while over a dozen cars drove right past, Ryan was out there helping this man who was stuck. It brought tears to my eyes and when Brandon asked so innocently how could people just drive right past while dad was out there all by himself helping that man. I explained to him that dad is a very good man who is in fact helping that man in the middle of a blizzard.
When we finally made it to my mom and stepdad's house it was such a relief. We were so glad to see them! Due to the weather my stepsister Meleia and her husband were not able to make the drive from Edmond. We were sad that we couldn't all be together but of course understood. It was nice visiting while watching the snow fall and blow from INSIDE a warm house!
After the boys took naps we opened gifts! Brandon was given a new bike, blue his favorite color and also guitar hero. He was over-the-moon excited! Blaine got some new tools and an actual working guitar and microphone set which he was most excited about! Britton scored with a Chuck the talking dump truck and tools and a toy that spins around that he has to jump over. Gracelyn received some toys that she can play with in a few months, a "G" for her room and sweet little singing seahorse! Ryan got another gift card to put toward a tent!!!! While I got a photo charm bracelet that I wanted where I can put the kiddos pictures in!!!!!!! I was soooooooo excited!

Blaine and his new toolbox!

more new tools!

he is happy!

sleeping beauty with her new tea set!

a guitar!

I love this purse and headband set!

It was such a fun time as always! Even into that evening we were not sure if we would be able to make it home. Around mid-afternoon they shut all the interstates down in the metro OKC area. We decided to wait to see. That evening Ryan did a test run around the neighborhood and when he came back he was pretty sure that we could make it home, people were on the highways again and seemed to be moving okay. So we loaded up the kids and my mom gave us some blankets just in case. We told them that if it was dicey then we had no problem coming back there and staying the night. We made it home though, what normally takes an hour took us a little over 2 but we were home and we were all relieved!