Our kids let us sleep in a bit on Christmas morning. Maybe it was their daddy telling them they couldn't wake us up until it was light out;) Whatever it was, we are happy it wasn't 5 am.
I made Tom go downstairs first to "check" that Santa really did arrive and to capture the girls expressions. I am so glad he did. Ella's face was one of pure excitement and "WOW!" Madeline was a tad bit overwhelmed!
All of those gifts are not from Santa either. Well under the tree, yes. But around the living room it's all family and our gifts to each other (Tom spoiled me rotten this year, too!) We both come from large families and they spoil our kids beyond belief. (and we love them for it!) So needless to say, in our tiny living room all of those gifts must look like a slice of heaven to young children! For Sam, it was a rock climbing wall. He used gifts as a way to try to climb onto the couch. He thoroughly enjoyed the ribbons, tags and paper. He may or may not have eaten any or all of it.
We had a really easy, relaxing Christmas day. We stayed in our pajamas all day, drank coffee, ate a delicious roast for dinner, Skyped with our families, and played with new toys. It's exactly how I wanted our day to go. The house stayed messy. Scattered new toys everywhere. We shuffled our way around them and the bits of wrapping paper. Kids ran around all excited to play, showing off everything Santa brought for them. Sam crawled around trying to find every last piece of anything to put into his mouth. My children were happy. We were happy. I know I soaked it all in, too. Their joyful faces, the sounds of their voices when they got exactly what they asked Santa for. The shriek from Ella when she opened her cowboy boots. The look on Sam's face when we would take half eaten paper out of his mouth or when he had his first bite of roast beef. Madeline exclaiming "Best Christmas Ever, mama!"
They make me smile everyday no matter what. But Christmas...it's non-stop smiling.
Lost in the sea of presents.
Opening stockings
I love it all. The chaos of Christmas morning with three kids.
Madeline LOVES pjs with feet. She was so happy to open a pair!
Group gift...Magnatiles! Best toy everrrrrr.
Climbing.
Opening the Wii that Aunt Bunny so generously donated to us!!
This is her happy, excited face. I swear. Santa had to search for this discontinued wish list item that Ella kept begging for.
Cowboy boots! Yeehaw!
Pretty much the only way to keep him contained and content! Bag full of paper!
I was so excited that Ella picked out such an awesome gift for me! She must have been saving her pennies for her entire life!
And this cat sweater is more than I could have ever asked for. Tom posted on FB weeks ago that this woul dbe my Christmas present, but I don't think anyone took him seriously. Apparently we should have.
I was so blinded by the sweater's beauty that I missed my new iphone hiding under it!
And this is why our Christmas tree will not stay up until the Epiphany!
Ice skates from Granny P! Can't wait for the girls to test them out at the Newport outdoor rink!
Ella was excited over the My Little Pony gift Madeline picked out for her.
My little brother bought the kids a Chess game, but it actually teaches them how to play the game. He couldn't believe that I didn't know how to play and he refused to let my girls go through life not knowing either. When Ella opened it she said "Oh my gosh! It's what I have always wanted!" I about died laughing. Seriously? Chess? Whose kid is she??
American Girl got a lot of our money this Christmas...from a lot of our family members, too! Cute doll outfits from Grampy Larry!
Gifts from Grandpa! I know these will come in handy this winter!!
Madeline helped open Sam's presents later that night. As you can see in the background, Sam couldn't care less about opening them himself.
And that's a wrap, folks. Another Christmas complete.
