Christmas Morning 2012

Christmas morning, the Mr. was at work until around 8am.  I wouldn't let the children open gifts until he returned home, but they were jumping out of their skin with so much excitement that I finally consented to let them at least open their stockings.

Then, after what seemed an eternity, the Mr. finally arrived home.  Of course, he had been awake all night, but, being the kind husband/father that he is, he stayed awake long enough to watch the children open gifts...what a trooper!

Wiggles

 ....with "Rapunzel!  Just what I wanted!!!"

 Grins was a bit disappointed with the scooter, since he had been hoping for a skateboard...but he took it in stride.  We convinced him Santa must have been concerned with his safety!

Angel couldn't wait to see the "American Girl" doll she'd been dreaming of...

"I knew Santa would bring it!  I just knew it!" she said...and they were instant friends!  (She hasn't put Elizabeth/Izzy down since!)

Snowboard...almost as much fun as a skateboard (and safer!!)

 Wiggles and Angel loved their headband set from Oma and Opa...as you can see, they wasted no time putting headbands together!

 Everyone posing with their favorite gifts of Christmas!

We finished with our final day of "Yule Log" - my personal favorite family tradition.  

For the week leading up to Christmas, we each have a "night" during which we are honored.  The Mr. and I begin, telling how we met, fell in love, and were married.  We light a candle and give the children each a gift we have personally made or selected just for them.  Then, we get an ornament representing something special about 2012 for our family.  This year, it was a Statue of Liberty, representing our trip to NYC.  

The second night is Angel.  This year, she received an "Angel" ornament - fitting!  She gave Grins a book she had made him, in which to keep all of his lego building instructions.  She spent hours on it, and did a beautiful job!  She made Wiggles an adorable little necklace and bracelet.  She is so thoughtful and crafty!

On Grins' evening, he received a Lego ornament, since this year he has really gotten into legos.  He gave Angel a container he had made her to keep her hair accessories in, and Wiggles, a puzzle he had made for her.  What a guy!

Wiggles was adorable.  She couldn't WAIT to distribute the gifts she had made!  She made Angel a hair bow, and Grins a box to keep his legos in.  She was so proud!  And was pleased as punch with her "Hello Kitty" ornament (definitely the theme for her this year!!)

Christmas night, we always light a candle for Jesus.  At the beginning of December, we had a special FHE lesson on Christmas being the celebration of Jesus' birth, and had put together a little gold box full of our (secret and private) gifts to Jesus for the year (usually goals we have for trying harder to be a little better...).  We kept the gold box on our Christmas tree all season, and this night, as we lit his candle, we each shared the gift we had been working to give him during the month.  This goes a little better each year as the children grow and seem to understand it more.  

 Lighting the candle for Jesus.  Note the poor Mr's tired face! :)

After the Yule Log, Grins was chomping at the bit to try out his snowboard.  The Mr. went to bed, the girls played with their new toys, and Grins and I headed outside to give it a go.  He did a marvelous job on the 'slopes' near our house!!

Later that day, the children and I (Mr. was back at work) were fortunate enough to be invited to dinner, first with our friends the Davis', and later, our friends the Greenaways!   Both were SO lovely and delicious, and we had a great time (though I didn't get any photos! Drat!)   Then, we managed to make it home safely in the crazy snowstorm we were having!  Wiggles was clearly worn out by the end of the day - but it was safe to say we had a very fun-filled, enjoyable day!!

Just some random pictures of the kiddos being silly.  I originally took these to show Grandma how much they enjoyed the hats and pjs she sent them....but they were having so much fun with the photo shoot, I guess we went a little crazy! :)

Oh - and we had to get one with Bagel, of course! (a dog of our friends that we sometimes watch when they are out of town...)

How I love these 3!!!!

Oh - and I had to add these of the children creating their gift to the Mr....a "massage" shirt, on which they drew roads/train tracks/etc, with the intent to drive their cars all over his back, giving him a massage!  They had a GREAT time!

 And here they are, trying it out on the Mr. after Angel's Yule Log night (when she gave it to him).  He loved it almost as much as they enjoyed making it!  Homemade gifts really are the best!!