We Pulled It Off

This was definitely a Christmas that will go down in history.  Chad and I were pretty dead set on staying home in Kansas this year.  Then for some reason, we changed our minds the very last minute.  We left our house around 9:00 on the 23rd, and stayed the night in St. Louis that night.  Then we traveled the final 10 hours of the trip on Christmas Eve.

NO ONE NEW WE WERE COMING...(ok, except my dad).

It was pretty awesome.  Our kiddos were so excited to surprise everyone!  When we arrived, my dad came sneaking outside and told us that my mom had to run to the store to get something really quick, so she wasn't even home.  Kelli was in the kitchen preparing the Christmas Eve dinner, and Kent and Karlee had already left for the Hoopers traditional Christmas Eve extravaganza! 

We walked in and Kelli was so giddy!  She was so excited to see us!

We waited for my mom to get home from the store.  She finally came back home and we were just sitting on the couch.  She walked right past us and down the hall.  She didn't even notice us at first.  My dad finally said, "Becky, come over here."  She walked back down the hall and STILL didn't notice us at first.  FINALLY she looked in to the family room and just started SCREAMING AND JUMPING! It was awesome.  Tears were coming down her face (and mine too).  It was such a great surprise.

While we were visiting there was a knock at the door.  The kids ran to the door and saw a Santa sack sitting on Papa and Mimi's front porch with our name on it!  They were so excited to see what was inside...

Looks like the pajama elf came and delivered every one's pajamas to them in Louisiana.  Phew!  We were a bit worried that Santa might not know where we were since we left on such short notice!

We did our traditional Christmas Eve traditions that we do when we come to Louisiana for Christmas...

Sophie played us Jingle Bells:

Then Mimi started playing and we each took turns picking out a Christmas song to sing.  All the while with Charlie showing off dancing for everyone.

Then Rylee played a song while we all sang to her beautiful piano piece.

Then Papa even surprised us all and played a little jingle for us too!

Papa reading The Night Before Christmas

Another fun party of this trip was when Kent and Karlee came back to my parents house that night.  Kelli was sitting on the couch feeding Landry his bottle while the rest of us went and hid in the kitchen.  Karlee was so confused at first and asked Kelli, "Who's baby is that?", and then asked, "Mom, did when did you get a new camera?".... All of a sudden you hear this huge, "WAIT A SECOND, AHHHHH!"  Karlee comes running around the corner into the kitchen screaming and in tears.  It was great!

Karlee had some reindeer dust that she wanted to give to the kids to sprinkle out on the lawn.  That way Santa and the reindeer could find Papa and Mimi's house in the dark.

Huddy Hud wanting in on the action too!

Christmas morning coming down the back staircase (a tradition since we were little kids).

Hudson wishing he was big enough to ride Boston's new bike (wouldn't surprise me if this kid tried too, though).

My dad surprised  my mom and had their old bikes fixed so they could go riding again!  

Trying to get a cousin picture

After the kids had checked out their toys from Santa, we headed to church to hear the gorgeous music and watch the program that my parents ward had put together.  It was wonderful!

We then came home and had to family pictures in our Christmas outfits.

Sweet, beautiful Auntie Kelli with Landry!

Landry

Sophie

Rylee

Charlie

All together now

The lovely Hooper family

Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad with 3 of their 4 daughters.  Kari wasn't here this year because it was their turn to spend the holiday's with Brandon's family.  We missed them a lot!

We then changed our clothes and got ready to open presents under the tree!

Me and my baby!

This year there was a big gift from all of us to the kids (well mostly from Papa and Mimi).  There was this huge box that was wrapped and the kids were DYING to open it up.  When they did, Mickey balloons came flying out, there were Disney pajamas inside, and a video of Disney World!  The kids couldn't believe it when we told them that their family trip in February was going to be in Disney World and that we were all going TOGETHER!!!  They were so excited!

Finished the day off by playing a game that Boston got for Christmas, Headbandz!