Monday, January 5, 2009

Christmas Day

It has been our tradition to spend Christmas with my parents. We could not imagine it any other way...we LOVE having all the family around!

Ever since the girls have been old enough to get up and leave the bedroom on their own in the morning, I've had to tell them to wait for me to get up on Christmas morning so that I can see their reaction (and get pictures) of all the presents and stuff. My kids don't wake up at the crack of dawn (and I don't sleep in), so it's not like they have to wait long. In fact, I woke up just before they did this year.

Here they are on my bed just before we headed out to see the presents. They're not excited or anything... =)


Here they are checking it all out...


My kids must not be normal, because every year we give them the option of either opening their presents or eating breakfast. What do you think they choose? Breakfast!!! Every time!! So, we head into the kitchen to have our annual treat of sausage balls. Yummy!!


After breakfast, the kids dug into their stockings. They got some new "lip stick," stickers, candy (organic), notepads and pens, various toys and jewelry, puzzle books (word search, sudoku, etc.).


As a tradition since I was a kid, we have always let each child take a turn opening a present, so that we can see each one and the reaction to each (and of course to get a picture). Whenever they get an identical present, we let them all three open at the same time, because they will know after one is opened what the other two are. One of these such presents was a pair of roller skates for each of them. Needless to say...they loved them!



Larissa loved the pillow that Alyx made for her. Look how sweet they are...



The girls enjoy picking out a present for each other. This was one that was given to Larissa from Sydney (I think). I just thought it was so fitting for her since she has always been our mischievous one. She's trouble, alright! =)


Alyx got a scrapbook kit. Maybe if I have a scrapbooking buddy, I'll be more apt to keep up with my own scrapbooks. =)


Sydney got a "Cookin' Cookie" game from Larissa. It's a cute, fun game. The kids really enjoyed playing it.


Another gift that they got alike was a pack of glitter glue. Yay! Lots of fun crafting in our future! =) I guess it's better than loose glitter being sprinkled on glue. =)



Sydney was too young when the older two girls got their "real" tea sets (non-plastic), so she's really been begging for one of her own this year. She finally got it...


Papa was the official tape cutter for the girls' boxes. =) Thank you, Papa!


The girls are freezing cold every morning (even in the summer). They say it's because they have cold milk in their cereal and then drink cold juice, and for 30 minutes or so after breakfast they will huddle under blankets. I decided that they would probably enjoy some robes to help keep them warm. Here's Alyx and Sydney with their robes...



What's in the big bags from Granny and Papa?


It's American Girl dolls!!! They did not expect these, but they really wanted them. Boy, were they surprised! Thank you, Granny!!


The girls and I enjoy the "Anne" movies, so I thought that we could read through the books as a "bedtime story" kind of thing.


Here's the aftermath... =)


When things had time to settle down a little bit, this is what I found Alyx doing. They each got a book with their American Girl dolls, and she was snuggled on the couch reading hers. =)


We had a very, merry Christmas with our family! I hope you all did as well!

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