We had the first of three Christmas celebrations when we had daughter Holly and her two girls, Brooke and Addy, come in on Tuesday for a quick visit.

The girls opened all of their packages. Some were from “GGMa,” which is what they call my mom. Others were from their Uncle Brent and Gina, Uncle Steve and Aunt Linda and us. Earlier in the day, we went to pick up my mom from her home in west-central Phoenix, stopped along the way for a quick lunch and took the girls to one of their favorite places, the Butterfly Wonderland. It is located at 9500 Via de Ventura, just east of the 101 freeway.

The girls went last time when they came for Easter.

The visit starts off with a seven-minute 3D studio film on the journey of the Monarch butterflies. It is very well done.

In fact, Holly said seeing the butterfly exhibit was all they talked about during the ride over here on Monday from their home in Carlsbad, Calif.

The butterflies seemed even more active than last time when we got there that afternoon. There were Monarchs, big blue ones, white ones and many multi-colored ones.

You are not supposed to touch the butterflies, but you can have them land on you. They said the butterflies were attracted to brightly colored clothing.

My mom had a multi-colored sweater on and she had a large blue one land on her shoulder just after we entered the large room where the butterflies are free to fly.

Both girls also attracted quite a few of them. They had on bright pink and orange shirts. I had on a black coat and black jeans and none of them landed on me.

And yes, I used deodorant that day.

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Congratulations to our three Grand Prize winners in The Times’ ”Holidays Cash in the Hills” promotion. Diane Gerdes was the big winner, receiving $500 in Fountain Hills Times dollars, to be spent on whatever she wants in any of the 35 participating businesses.

The second place winner was Peggy Dietrich, who received $300, and the third place winner, receiving $200, was Tanya Belliard.

Remember, all prize winners must spend their dollars by Jan. 31.

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Congratulations are in order for the Bercel family, 15534 E. Chicory, as the first place winner of the Neighborhood Property Owners Association’s holiday lighting contest. (See photos on Page 3A.)

Second place was awarded to the Mayeux family at 16030 E. Tumbleweed.

There are lots of lighted homes beyond the boundaries of the NPOA’s jurisdiction, too. So put the kids in the car and tour the community on Christmas Eve or Christmas night.

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So, in closing this week, Diane and I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Here is a picture of our miracle grandbaby, Camden, who is enjoying his first Christmas after open heart surgery last summer.