Christmas Day 2014

Christmas Day was a pretty busy day for us, but it was such wonderful family time all around. The kids woke up around 8:00 that morning- we were grateful that we could sleep in a bit! (They have been known to get up at 7:00...so 8:00 felt great!) Like last year, Daniel suggested we do stockings first. Daniel was super excited that Santa even left his lion (and Annabel's Care Bear) a stocking! He'd been wanting a stocking for lion, so it was really cool to find out "Santa heard me!!" The kids had a blast checking out all their stocking treasures. Big hit- Hot Wheels color changers! Daniel had been really wanting some of those, so he was ecstatic that he finally got some! And he also loved his foodie socks- popcorn, hamburger, french fries, etc.- those have been a big hit all week long since Christmas, and he often mixes them up- i.e. the hamburger and french fries. Cute kid! Annabel loved her Hello Kitty and Batgirl socks, her Dora toothbrush, and Minnie Mouse markers. After that, we moved onto presents and the kids pretty much tore right through them, barely taking a breath, though they did always stop to see who the present was from, which I loved. Daniel about hit the roof when he saw the Hot Wheel track he really wanted! Annabel loves her new Playmobil zoo.- it even has pandas, one of her fave animals! Of course, Legos, books, games and other such fun stuff were hits, too.

Daddy made monkey bread for breakfast, which us grown-ups loved, but I think the kids would have preferred their usual cinnamon roll-ups...and anyway, they mostly just wanted to get back to playing with their new toys! No time for breakfast with new toys in the house! We had fun putting things together and trying things out. Annabel was a tad overwhelmed at this point, I think, between new presents the night before and new presents that morning, she really didn't know what to play with and was perfectly happy to just take us upstairs to play mommy/baby. It was really so sweet, bless her heart; I saw perfectly in Annabel's eyes this year, how overwhelming this all is and it just reinforces everything I believe lately about simplifying and minimizing overload. Next year...we'll nail this down even more! Every year we do this better and better...

After some wonderful family time just the four of us, we all got dressed and ready to head to Grandma Cheryl's house for Christmas fun with aunts, uncles, and cousins. We did stockings there, too, and then all the kids took turns opening their presents, before adults got their turn while the kids took off to play. Annabel sat in my lap the entire time, which was so sweet even if it was because she didn't want to be on the floor with the dogs- I just loved having my girl up close with me, so snuggly and sweet. And she stayed to help me open my presents, too- she loved that, it was like getting extra treats, although my things weren't nearly as exciting as her stuff, to her, so she'd quickly move on after a few rips revealing what the gift was, which was just too funny. We enjoyed some sandwich fixings and snacks, took some more time to visit with everybody, and then by late afternoon, the kids were ready to head back home to play some more with new toys. We had a great, relaxing Christmas.

And last but not least, I can't forget to mention some sweet Christmas news I was surprised with...my brother is expecting a baby of his very own come next July! We are so excited for Amelia and Brian and wish them all the best for this next chapter in their journey together! I couldn't be happier for Brian and am so glad to see his lifelong dream realized! Can't wait to meet the new member of our family! Next Christmas will sure be different...

The kids' stockings were filled to the brim, and Santa even left an "L" stocking for lion and a "B" for Care Bear...so fun!

Daniel's expression upon finding a color changing Hot Wheels car!

The kids love to flop when things are exciting and say, "I'm dead." No idea where they got this from, but there you have it!

Annabel is trying to decide where to start.

It's always so fun to capture the moment when their eyes light up after unwrapping...here, Daniel is delighted to find he'd gotten a rocket to launch. It's a stomp rocket launcher and hopefully it's as cool as it sounds...next warm day we have I think I know where we're headed- wide open soccer fields to try this out!

Hot Wheels Turbo track! Daniel was literally flipping out trying to unwrap this present as fast as possible once he figured out what it was- love the action shot!

Love that Annabel literally just sat down right there by the tree in the middle of the presents to open her next present. So sweet. I was reminded so many times this Christmas of how young Annabel still is, even though she's trying so hard to grow up fast...and this was another one of those times.

Playmobil zoo!

Spiderman calendar- score! It was always a tradition for my mom to give us a new calendar at Christmas, and I love being able to continue that tradition for my kids and we found the perfect calendars for each of them- Spiderman and Fancy Nancy- oh boy were they delighted! Annabel hung hers up almost immediately!

Annabel checks out her new dollhouse car and the garage Daniel made! It's been so fun to play with all her new dollhouse stuff this week! The car has just been a big hit!

All over. Now what to do?

The kids finally spotted the stocking Santa hung on the dollhouse...toys for the dollhouse people, too! So fun!

Annabel quickly went to her usual activities, given how overwhelmed she was...we checked out the last window in the computer advent calendar for Christmas Day and then Annabel had fun with the Paint program on my computer. I'd taken this picture because I was particularly impressed that Annabel was "typing" much like I would, fast fingers pro typing style- it cracked me up watching her! She misses nothing. I'll do something new for her once on the computer (like open a new window, print a picture, take her to a new website and such) and this girl figures it out for herself immediately, often after just one instance of my help. She's a quick learner.

Of course Daniel was already working on his new Lego sets!

All spiffied up again and ready to head to Grandma Cheryl's house!

This picture is blurry, I know, but I loved the way Annabel's dress was swinging!

Oh, my heart...sweet picture, sweet expressions, such sibling love!

Just my girl. Loving her new Christmas dress and wearing tights- feeling so sophisticated.

My girl and me.

Daniel smiles for Daddy before he checks out his stocking!

Present time!

Annabel loves her new Hello Kitty robe- so cute and so cuddly!

Love this picture of my boy and me...sure wish Annabel was looking at the camera though (but man, this girl was super thirsty, she clearly wasn't waiting another second!)

Back at home...Annabel was so excited to "be creative" she said, with her new art kits from Aunt Christina and Bella & Kaleb. She quickly set to work cutting out paper, gluing her pieces, painting, drawing, and trying out all her new art supplies. It was so sweet. She just loves doing projects!

The boys got right back to work building Legos!

Merry Christmas everybody!

Merry Christmas to All...and to all a Good Night!

Christmas Eve finally came after we'd spent the day keeping busy with this and that, so we headed out to Grandma Mary Kay's house. The kids could not wait! They looked super spiffy and adorable in their Christmas Eve outfits. Annabel thought she was the bees' knees- she was so cute and she knew it. We loved her expressive dances...just wait till you look below and see 'em- she's a hoot, oh my goodness. Unwrapping presents was basically a blur....the kids were beyond excited and went so fast, we had a hard time keeping up, but they were so cute and so thankful for everything, we loved it all. And of course when all was unwrapped, it was time to open packages up and try out the new toys! It was all so fun!

After all that fun playtime and a yummy meal, we came back home to get ready for Santa and head to bed...after all, the kids knew he wouldn't come until they were sleeping! So, we decorated cookies for Santa, counted out 9 carrots (after all, Daniel says, Rudolph helps Santa every Christmas just in case), hung our stockings with care (we saved this for Christmas Eve this year...I kinda liked it this way!), and hung our special Santa Key on our front door. And then it was time to put our pajamas on, but Daniel remembered the pajama elf (he'd been checking under his pillow all day, actually! it was so cute!) and he checked under his pillow one last time and lo & behold...instead of pajamas, a clue was left! Daniel read the clue (he's reading quite well these days, it still boggles my mind!) and ran to tell Annabel to check under her pillow where she found the same clue...Look under the tree. The kids couldn't run down the stairs fast enough, it was too funny...and there under the tree, they found matching Snoopy Christmas pajamas! (Or as Annabel says, Charlie Brown jamas; she can't seem to get that the dog is Snoopy.) They were over the moon! It was all so fun! And then I read my last two Christmas stories...The Pajama Elf and The Night Before Christmas. Cute story- when I was reading the pajama elf, two things came up- one was that the elves make the pajamas for good girls and boys and Daniel's face lit up right away and he exclaimed, "We're on the Nice List!" (as if to say, phew!- perhaps he was worried?!), and secondly, Daniel also really paid attention to the part where the story tells how the elves come and measure the kids to get their pajamas fitted just right- "well, they must have not measured me at all because look at these sleeves!" Oh it was too funny. Yes, the sleeves were a bit long- I told him the elves probably thought he would grow a bit...good save, yes? (Truthfully, I just wanted them to last more than a year!) Anyway, it was a super fun Christmas Eve!

And to top it all off...Annabel's cutest expression of the week..."Merry Christmas and to all and to all a good night!" (Yep, her words exactly, no typos here...and said so super cutely, too!!!)

Here comes Santa Claus!

Annabel thinks she's the bees' knees in this adorable outfit...and she's right of course!

Sweet picture!

Oh those expressions are killing me- too funny! 

Daniel's eyes are saying here we go again! Annabel...no idea, it's just funny.

 Oh the moves this girl does!

 Annabel is such a hoot...check out her dances!

Annabel fell asleep on the way to Grandma's house...I sure kept her busy that day!

Stocking and Present time!

Annabel LOVES her Pretend & Play School! What a hit! 

Legos- always a hit!

Daniel really wanted this Hot Wheels Bathtub Playset...here he's saying he'll take a bath EVERY night now! (He's said this all along, from the minute this item went on his list!) Hah. Fat chance. But I love the enthusiasm, buddy!

Already playing school.

Making a certificate for me. Cute story...there are "Hall Passes" in this set and I told Annabel they are for letting kids go to the bathroom during class. Later, while finishing up dessert at the table, she wanted to play school and I said I had to go to the bathroom first and then I would play...she ran off and came back with a Hall Pass for me! It was too funny. I was impressed she put that pass into real action.

Daniel was very excited to get this Spiderman sweatshirt he'd spotted at Target one day...I had told him I would put it on his list...and voila! He tried it on right away and has worn it every day since!

Oh boy here we go! Annabel's first princess dress-up- Sofia the 1st- of course she LOVES to play dress up with this outfit now!

Decorating cookies for Santa!

Counting out (and snacking on!) carrots for the reindeer!

Hanging our special Santa Key on the front door!

Pajama Elf Frenzy! Daniel ran off before I could even blink, and turn the camera on, but I got Annabel running as fast as her legs could carry her! Their reactions to the pajamas were so cute!

  

The children were nestled all snug in their beds...

LOVE the toes!

Keeping Antsy Kids Busy on Christmas Eve!

December 24th FINALLY came and like most of the world I believe, I had antsy kids! What to do to keep them busy all day until it was time to go to Grandma Mary Kay's for Christmas Eve fun? Well, I sure kept them busy...don't know how I did it, but in the end, we had the most delightful, fun, connected morning/afternoon and I loved every minute of it. We cut and baked our sugar cookies that morning, so they would be super fresh for Santa. Daniel worked very hard at using his dough wisely and cutting many cookies into his flattened dough before balling it up and starting again, rolling it out perfectly each time. It was so fun to watch him work so methodically and logically! Annabel had the most fun choosing and cutting shapes out. Then, we decorated those cookies, and of course we ate some. Daniel finished building his present for Annabel (a garage for Annabel's new dollhouse car) with Daddy and then he and I painted it. We played games. We did dot-art activities (the kids love our dot art markers, so these activities I'd found on the internet were perfect for them!). The kids even played outside with Daddy for a little while. I'm sure we did other things, too...and then suddenly it was 3:00 and time to get all spiffied up; somehow we'd gotten through the day and had a lot of fun! We were all in such good spirits! Such a great feeling. So by 3:30ish, we were good and ready to head to Grandma's house for some real Christmas fun...the kids were ready for present time!

Here are my busy kids working off that Christmas Eve energy!

We started our day by baking sugar cookies and of course decorating and eating a few. Daddy even decorated a plateful of them to take to Grandma's that night!

These squeezable frosting packets I picked up were awesome and so worth the money- the kids loved being able to draw designs on their cookies. Daniel's cookies were so cool- he really got into this activity. Genius idea on my part to pick these things up!

Daniel hammering away, building his present for Annabel- a garage for the new dollhouse car she would be getting from us for Christmas.

Daniel really wanted Annabel to open the present he made for her at school...he didn't want to wait another day, so he gave it to her Christmas Eve Day. He was so sweet with her, telling her all the details he'd thought of to make it for her and she loves her little gingerbread girl!

Dot Art Fun!

Crazy mixed up Christmas puzzles- the kids thought this was just hilarious!!

Daddy's cookies, all decorated and ready to go to Grandma's! I was quite impressed with Ben's cookie artwork!