Christmas Day 2010

When I think of Christmas morning so many memories come flooding back to my mind...

Jason and I would wake up super early on Christmas morning and whichever one of us woke up first would sneak into the other's room and get them up and together we would tip toe into the living room so we could get a peak at what Santa had left us the night before. Once we gave it a good look, we would go wake up mom and dad so they could share in our excitement. Presents would always be stacked very deep around the Christmas tree and they would grow half way out into the room.

Christmas morning, for the past 34 years of my life, have always been spent at my parents house gathered around their Christmas tree. Two years ago when Sayer was born, one week before Christmas, we celebrated Christmas morning here at our house and this year was the second time for that to happen. With Santa visiting our house we thought that it would be easier for my parents to come over here to open gifts. They were able to come over before Sayer got up so they were able to watch him walk down the stairs, his eyes full of wonder and excitement as he looked at all of the presents that Santa had left for both he and Greyson. I LOVE the look on his face and his response when I asked him if Santa came to visit. I will never forget this first Christmas where he "got it". I know that every year will only get better!!

Sayer and Greyson were both very good boys this year. Here are some snapshots from Christmas morning 2010.

WOW - check out the Radio Flyer Big Wheel from Uncle Jason and Aunt Heidi. Sayer loved it!! He was fascinated with the long flag that was on the back. His legs weren't quite long enough to reach the pedals, but he didn't care. It will be perfect come this summer.

And, the drum set from Santa was a hit!

Greyson watching Sayer play his drums. Next year will be a different story when Greyson will be right in the middle of everything along with his brother.

Sayer giving his cousin Remi the chew toy!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve at Aunt Karen's

Christmas Eve at Aunt Karen's... year 3 of a fairly new tradition!

We started the afternoon by meeting at the cemetery to gather around grandma and grandpa's grave to read our poem, say a prayer and pay our respects. Even though this has been a tradition that started the year grandma died, it is not something that gets any easier as the years go by. In fact, for me, it is more emotional now that I have my own children. I so wish that my grandparents were still here to be able to share in the lives of their great-grandchildren. I know that Sayer and Greyson would bring such joy to their lives.

After we left the cemetery we headed to Aunt Karen's festive house to enjoy each other's company. This year was special in many ways, but one thing that made it extra special was that Jason and Heidi (newly engaged the first of December) were able to be with us.

Always more presents than we know what to do with. Aunt Karen and mom LOVE Christmas and they LOVE giving. They have always made Christmas extra special for each of us "kids" and now my kids get to share in the giving/receiving! We are all so blessed that we are able to give so abundantly.

Aunt Heidi, Uncle Jason and Greyson. (Poor Grey was starting to get sick Christmas Eve. You can certainly see it in his eyes in this picture.)

WOW - how things have changed in one short year. Last Christmas Eve Sayer was the one and only child. This year he was joined by cousin Janika and Greyson. Kids make the holidays so much better! Sayer and Janika playing with toys BEFORE opening their presents.

The family gathering for Christmas Eve dinner. We always have the "traditional" meal... turkey, ham, potatoes, stuffing, green beans, hot rolls, sweet potatoes and spinach salad. YUM! Thank you mom and Aunt Karen for always working so hard to prepare such a wonderful meal for all of us. I promise to take over one of these days!

YaYa and Janika playing BEFORE presents.

Sayer opening his first present of this evening. He was very into opening gifts this year. Last year it was all about the paper and tissue paper. This year it was all about the gift that was inside. Sayer had twice the presents to open this year because he opened all of Greyson's gifts too. Next year might be a different story...

Justin and Janika.
KUDOS to Jason for bringing the "gift" of the night!! He had presents for mom, Aunt Karen, Justin and I that he said were from Grandpa and Grandma. As mom and Aunt Karen opened their gifts, their facial expressions said it all as they realized what the gift was.

Jason had taken a photo of my grandparents farm from the corner of their grave site. The cemetery that they are buried in overlooks their farm. The picture turned out AMAZING. This picture certainly doesn't do it justice. What an awesome gift Jason. Thank you!

Sayer licking the icing off of a Christmas cookie that Farrah made. What a perfect way to end a perfect night!!

Ho, Ho, Ho... Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve started off at Aunt KiKi's house with a brunch hosted by Grammy and Papa. Grammy started this tradition last year, their first year in Kansas City, and it is something that Mike and I will look forward to for many years to come.

This year we were lucky enough to have a visit from Santa Claus!! Sayer hadn't had a chance to sit on Santa's lap this year, and after this visit I was happy that I hadn't stood in a long line to make that happen. He liked admiring Santa from a far, but was not at all interested in sitting on his lap for a picture. Greyson, on the other hand, was obsessed with Santa's beard and his twinkling eyes!!

Thank you Grammy and Papa for making Christmas Eve so special this year! We love you.

Merry Christmas Ms. JoDe

I think that I can remember almost every trip that I ever made to Ms. JoDe's house as a child. Every visit was memorable... exploring her basement full of goodies, admiring all of her precious collections, choosing from a selection of sweets and always being treated like I was a precious little lady!

I am so thankful that Ms. JoDe is able to share so many of those things with my boys now. Trips to JoDe's house, I hope, will be fond moments that they will remember and treasure for the rest of their lives.

Exploring...

Sharing...

Admiring her collectibles...

Eating as many cookies as you possibly can and drinking out of real glassware

like a young man...

Being loved and hugged by Ms. JoDe...

One thing that is missing now, that my boys will not get to experience, is the love and admiration of Jim. What an amazing man Jim was! I will always remember the love and attention that he always showed my brother and I. And, I will always remember what a sharp dressed man he was. That is why this quilt is so precious to me - it was made out of Jim's ties. I cried when JoDe first showed this to me and I just think that it is one of the most amazing keepsakes that she could ever have. It is absolutely beautiful!

Tamara and her little buddy Baby Grey!

Greyson's Baptism

December 19, 2010 was a very important day for the Reik family. This was the day that Greyson Jon was baptized at the United Methodist Church. It was important to me to do it this weekend so that Greyson's entire family could be present. Everyone, including Uncle Jason, was able to be there to witness this important event.

Papa Reik sang "When a Child Is Born" just before he and Grammy became members of the church and Greyson Jon was baptized. What a blessed day! Thank you Lord!