Christmas 2011

We had a very Merry Christmas this year. We weren't able to have our Christmas on Christmas Day, though. I actually had to work on Christmas Day for the first time. I didn't fight it...I've gotten out of it for 6 years and I figured it was time to pay my dues. I actually think it worked out for the best though. We decided to pretend Christmas Eve was actually Christmas Day. It ended up giving us more time to be together than it would have if we'd had been able to celebrate on the actual day since Christmas Day was on a Sunday and we would have to get ready and go to church and had plans to be in Rosebud later that day.

The kids seemed really excited to go to bed and wake up to their presents. However, when I woke up the next morning they were just sitting on the couch watching cartoons. I made coffee, got the camera ready, we made a fire and then had to almost talk the kids into opening presents! Ha!

Our loot...


First things first...we read the story of the birth of Jesus and then Elijah said a prayer thanking God for sending Jesus to us...

Once we said it was time to open gifts Sadie got really excited! Elijah was really sweet, he let Sadie go first and then said he wanted to let Sadie open all her gifts first. We talked him in to taking turns and had a great time watching them enjoy each gift...

She got The Beauty and the Beast (or "Booty and da Beast) movie...

Elijah got some new books...

Beau got Farkle, his favorite game...

And a rocking chair...

Elijah also got an ant farm...

Sadie added a tea party set and a Cinderella (Cinderrerra) doll to her loot and Elijah also got some dinosaur sheets. I was contemplating giving him sheets as a Christmas gift, thinking it was pretty lame, but it was actually the gift he was most excited about. He was SO excited to put them on his bed and pick out all the dinosaurs he knows. One more reason I love that kid.



Their stocking were packed with candy and new cups (Toy Story and Princess)

and Sadie got Cinderella bubbles...

and Elijah got a big toy dinosaur...

We had our traditional Monte Cristo sandwiches (I don't think anyone but me really likes them, but they are tradition!) and fruit. We ended the morning going to see the very fantastic (enter sarcasm font) Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was a great day!