We've always let the kids get stuff out of their stockings when they first wake up - even if nobody else is awake yet. Surprisingly, I woke up first - so I was able to capture a few stocking pics. Ren was the last to wake up and Loe was about to burst from excitement while waiting for her so we could open presents. While the kids pass out the gifts I pop a breakfast casserole into the oven (prepared the day before) along with our birthday (coffee) cake for Jesus. After all the presents are opened we have breakfast together and then the kids get to play with their toys and goof off the rest of the day. Trevor and I help them put toys together, play games, take pics and relax. What fun it is to have little ones around again - the joy-filled expressions and laughter as we bake, shop, wrap, decorate, see the lights, worship and of course open gifts is a joy to us! Later in the afternoon we have a simple dinner of ham, mashed and sweet potatoes, corn and rolls for dinner and relax for the rest of the evening. December is a fun, but very busy and full month for us and so we cherish Christmas Day at home with our kids and sometimes we don't even get out of our pjs! Thank-you Father for the precious and amazing gift of your only Son as we remember His birth during this time of year.
We found some very fun, old fashioned, sturdy toys for the girls at Dunce Busters (Centerra) - they really like this castle which they are opening above.
The boys got some gift cards to their favorite clothing store Pacsun, along with a new guitar, video/computer games and other gift cards.
Loe asked for a "real" bible and we found this adorable sparkly princess bible. She asked us to read some to her after breakfast and again later that day. These girls are definitely God's princesses - daughters of the King! Though the younger princess was a bit moody from the late Christmas Eve! She accidentally got Hunter's gift and opened it. When we told her it was a book for Hunter, she was so mad and didn't want to give it back! Too funny!
Trevor requested a new coffee maker - it gets well-used around here with he and both the boys drinking coffee on a daily basis. While I was washing breakfast dishes I looked out and this Kestral was perched on the railing of our deck. He was SO cute! So fluffed up and pretty - seems strange that these guys are raptors. What a fun visitor! He hung out there for about 10 minutes before moving on.
Some of the disaster after present-opening. We don't buy our kids much in the way of toys and gifts through out the year except on their birthdays and at Christmas - it is truly a joy to shop for them. Trevor and I spend a few of our dates in December talking about what to get them and shopping together for their gifts as well as the many others on our list. Some years are different but most years we try to get the kids a fun game, a movie, a good book or two and some toys. Obviously the 'toys' change some as they grow up! And we now have a lot more pink, sparkly toys as opposed to the GI Joes and Lego toys of the past. These boys are growing up so quickly and it is awesome to watch them become young men, but I kind of miss those little boy Christmases...sniff!
