Shannonogans: The Smith family exchange

The same weekend as our Morby party my immediate family decided to exchange gifts as well. This was the Christmas all three of us kids would spend with our in-laws, so we usually try to get together before the weekend of Christmas. Shane & Kaki graciously hosted us all for brunch since we had just gotten back from NYC.

This little boy was just waiting for the presents. He was loving all these parties, as he kept calling them. Such a social butterfly.

As I mentioned previously, I decided not to junk up everyone's house this year and give memories over presents. While in New York, Derek and I kept seeing billboards for Burger King, an establishment we never frequent. So we thought it would be funny to give my brothers $5 giftcards to BK and tell them that we bought them a water well in Africa as their gift. (Which is what I really wanted to do, but thought my family would banish me from further functions if I didn't ease into that.)

Derek and I were trying not to bust out laughing watching my brothers open not only a BK giftcard, but a New Moon one complete with a crown.

Aaron sported his for the entire gift exchange.

Shane, who has always been blessed with a larger hat size, couldn't stand the tightness for more than a few minutes.

Justin added to his already growing love for board games by starting off with Candy Land, his all time personal fave.

Elise made me this wreath after noting my enthusiasm for a wreath I saw at Emmalie's house. The sheet music is from a song called The Christmas Song. I absolutely loved it, and plan to put this over my piano.

Game number 2 - Hungry Hippo. Justin likes to play his "marshmallow hippo" game. Look at that enthusiasm!

Aaron will not be whining about a cold golfcart ride any longer with his windshield he now owns. Apparently some family joke that I was unaware of.

We just opened and opened...

...and opened. Shane's Christmas Story t-shirt had to be my personal fave.

Justin got a Lightning McQueen sleeping bag, but wasn't sure how to get inside.

So we had a mock portrayal of how it would be used in the future. I think he's ready for one of his daddy's camping trips!

Justin was given a Nike sport-fit shirt from my dad. Every time my dad wore this slick Adidas red shirt, Justin would tell him how much he liked it. But Justin wasn't so sure as to what to do with his tummy in a tight shirt. He kept trying to suck in.

Game #3 - a Boz Adventure game. Justin hasn't seen much of Boz, but he calls him the green Barney, another character he doesn't know much of. Derek has been wearing his new fleece jacket almost everyday since receiving it. Aaron seems to manage to always find an article of clothing that fits Derek. He told me his secret - he looks at all the other clothes until he finds a freakishly long one and buys it on the spot.