Christmas Day

If only everyday could be Christmas Day! 

Such a perfect day filled with excitement, joy, elation, family time, traditions [new and old], and naps for everyone.

Because he was so giddy with excitement on Christmas Eve night, I was expecting David to wake up early and come running into our room ready to see what Santa brought him. Well, he didn't. I was the one who woke up early from the excitement. I laid in bed, pretending to be asleep, impatiently waiting for him. He woke up at his normal time [7:30am], came tip-toeing into our room, thought we were still asleep so he went into our bathroom and found some toys to play with until we woke up. Such a sweet boy! When I realized what he was doing I called him over to our bed. Then he got excited! We were awake, it was time!! Rachael woke up soon after.

Ryan went downstairs first to start the coffee pot, preheat the oven for our Christmas morning breakfast, and most importantly, make sure Santa had come. The kids and I waited at the top of the stairs. With the gate still at the top of the stairs, I felt like I was holding back race horses in their stalls at The Kentucky Derby.

Finally it was time to come down the stairs!

And on Rachael's side:

 

her very own kitchen, sleeping bag, and roller skates complete with a helmet and pads

David's side:

 

a "big boy" bike, sleeping bag, and roller skates complete with helmet and pads

And stockings filled to the brim:

  

 

 

They ran to their gifts as fast as they could.

 

 

 

After spending A LOT of time fully examining all their gifts from Santa, we paused for breakfast. We had cinnamon rolls [traditional from Ryan's childhood] and a sausage/egg casserole [from my childhood]. I love them both because I make them the night before and just put them in the oven in the morning. 

Anyway, the kids ate quickly and wanted to check their stocking next.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bogie always loves opening his Christmas stocking!

 

 

Present opening time was great fun too. You may remember that last year David was able to buy us gifts because his school created a Christmas store where each child could purchase gifts for their family. [it's a fundraiser for the school]. Well, they did again this year, so David and Rachael got to buy everyone gifts! And once again I was most excited to see what they each picked out. 

 

David got this baby doll for Rachael, which she loved of course.

 

  

Rachael picked out a Scooby Doo knit hat and gloves set for David [the hat has Scooby Doo's face on it, it's really cute]. 

 

 

From Rachael, I got a vanilla scented lotion and bubble bath set.

 

 

Daddy got a green book light for all the late night book reading he does...

 

 

And David gave us both GIANT holiday pens.

 

 

 

 

Playing with their toys amid all the wrapping paper.

 

 

I love this one. So precious.

 

 

Just before nap time we took our Christmas morning family picture. While getting the camera set up, we caught this insanely cute picture of two very happy kids on Christmas.

 

 

 

All of us.

 

After we ALL [yes, even me!] took a nice, long Christmas afternoon nap, the weather was warm enough for us to try out some of the outdoor toys the kids received.

David first played with his t-ball set we gave him. 

 

 

 

 

Rachael and Bogie shared a snack while they watched. 

  

 

Rachael was really excited to try roller skating. She was quit good from the get-go. 

 

 

 

She didn't need my help for long, just Bogie to watch over her. 

  

 

David also tried out his skates, but his coordination wasn't quite as good as Rachael's. 

Most of his skating attempts went something like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, he moved on to his big boy bike. He did GREAT on it!

 

 

He need to "fix" it.

  

 

We played outside until the sun went down then came in for dinner. 

For dessert, we had a birthday party for Jesus. We sang "Happy Birthday" and then made ice cream sundaes! It was SO MUCH fun. We had two flavors of ice cream [chocolate and vanilla], whipped cream, M&Ms, chocolate syrup, cherries, and sprinkles all in a waffle bowl.

 

The kids thought it was the best way to celebrate Jesus' birth.

David used both is spoon and his hand.

 

 

Rachael got bites a little too big for her, but she didn't care. 

 

 

To wrap up our Christmas day we let the kids break in their new sleeping bags. We all slept in the living room by our Christmas tree and nice, warm fire in the fireplace. David and Rachael absolutely loved it. 

 

 

But the day was filled with so much fun that they didn't want it to end. They had a hard time falling asleep, but finally they gave into the tiredness and went to sleep. [sleeping in the same position]

 

 

We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas again this year. It was a perfect day. I will treasure the memories from that day for a very long time.