Our Gifts from God: Christmas Day

We started a new tradition this year. Celebrating Christmas early. All our extended family lives so far from us, that we expect all our future Christmases to either be spent traveling away from home, or with a house full of company. We'll always miss out on that special Christmas morning with just Jacob & I and the kids. So, we had Christmas a week early this year! And it was a great family day!

I woke before anyone else... yes, I know, that's highly unusual. But I couldn't sleep, I was too excited. The kids had no idea what was going to happen that day, so to them it was a normal morning. Until we asked them if they wanted to open those presents :)

But opening presents had to come after.... waking up, giving a pee-soaked baby a bath, eating breakfast (Nathan gets mad if he doesn't do that first), fighting with a toddler over his diaper change, and then sitting down to read the story of Christ's birth together.

Then, we could finally start opening gifts :)

Nathan & Faith got Don't Break the Ice!

Nathan loves to play it, except he thinks it should be called

"Who can break the ice faster?"

And when Faith was too slow at opening her present,
and got distracted by other things
Nathan happily stole the gift from her to open for her.

It was a Zhu Zhu pet!

Faith loved it's squeaks & movements!

Until Nathan stole that, too.

But he gave it back so he could open more gifts.
Clothes from Gramma & Grampa!
As soon as he opened the Thomas the Train set,
he screams CHOO CHOO!
And he forgot all about Faith playing with the rodent :)

Nathan's next gift from Gramma & Grampa was a hit, too!
Neo Tracks - WOW!

Then it was Faith's turn... what could be in that box??

WHOA! A light up, bouncing, vibrating, musical crazy ball!!
She adores it!!!! She loves to watch it, and hold it against her tummy, too.
It's pretty funny to watch her shake with it.

Of course, big brother had to steal it, too.

Then it was Daddy's turn to open a gifts from the kids...
what's this?? a block with his photo on it??

Hmm.... a puzzle....

YAY! He figured it out.
Its a set of puzzle blocks with a different photo of
our family on every side - 6 total.
Now he has something to do when he's bored at his desk ;-)

Then the kids each opened their own Potato Head - Mr & Mrs!
They didn't know what they were, but the boxes had handles.
And so carrying them around was a hit, at least with Faith :)

But Thomas the Train was a big hit with Nathan!
Now he has a Thomas for his train table!

And Thomas went well with his older Percy engine and the Neo Tracks track!

I think he's happy ;-)

And Faith got a horse puzzle.
Which she'll have to grow into later this year.

But it was one of my many freebies through some savy online shopping ;-)

Nathan got a similar puzzle, too - Barnyard animals!

That face is saying... "Really? Socks??"

lol... you know you're a mom when you give socks and/or underwear for Christmas

And he got a cool truck from his great Aunt Helen!

And Faith got a baby stroller!

She LOVES it - she pushes it around all day, everyday.

Except if you put a baby in it, she throws it out and gives you a look

that says "why on earth so I want that thing in there??"

The kids made Daddy another gift for his office!

Their handprints, with thumbprint hearts.

Then Mommy got to open a gift, too!

Wow! A video camera!

Jacob knows me a little too well, cause he got a waterproof one!

LOL :) Perfect honey - thank you!

Now I can start making real videos of the kids

instead of the little videos my camera takes.

After all the gifts were opened, it was time to open the stockings!

What'd you get, Faith??

Orangers, play-dog, a stuffed cow, bracelets.

A toothbrush, Reeses candy, and jingle bells!

Wow!

What's in your's, Nathan?

Play Doh, M&Ms, Wii controller candy dispenser.

Thomas underwear (from Gramma), oranges and a harmonica!

YAY!

"OOooo... which to chew on first?!?"

Wow - Daddy got cherry pie filling!
And more socks, beef jerky and lots of candy :)

I like to think this look says
"What a cool toy, Thanks Mommy!"

And Faith decided that Daddy's candy would be
much mroe fun to chew on then her own.

But there was still one more gift...
A note at the bottom of Daddy's stocking
told him to look behind the double doors of
Faith's bedroom. What would he find??

A recliner!!!
A chair fit for a king ;-)

We had a fun Christmas morning!
The kids loved opening gifts,
and Jacob & I loved watching their eyes fill with wonder!

So what all did they get??
Here's a picture of all the loot!