Christmas this year

We've had such a nice Christmas this year.  I'm not even in a huge hurry to move on.  It's just been fun and exciting to celebrate with my little kids.  On Christmas Eve we played games all morning.  This one was really fun.  It's called smash the snowman and I put a little squirt of shaving cream under each laminated snowman and I'd ask each kid a question:   What's snow made out of?  What's 12 + 4?  Then, when they got it right they would smash the snowman. 

 Of course, they really really enjoyed just smushing it all around after the game was over..

 We decorated enormous gingerbread men from Costco.

 Then we played a game where for each number you rolled on the dice you got to eat a leg or an arm or whatever.

 So fun.

We saved one cookie to leave out for Santa.

That evening we went over to my brother Gavan's house for ham dinner and the Christmas Program.

 My parents were looking fabulous in their matching sweaters.

 The kids all got dressed and we had a very loose interpretation of the Christmas story with some very excited and rowdy kids.

 After we got home we got all set up for Christmas. 

 John and I did so awesome this year.  We were really careful and purposeful with what we bought and wrapped it all last week so Christmas Eve was pretty quick and non stressful.

The kids woke up this morning one by one starting at about 7:00.  They played around with their stockings and Santa gifts until everyone was up.

 Santa brought the kids little kid sized cereal in their stockings which was a perfect early morning breakfast that required no work for me. 

 We tried to go in order one by one opening stuff but that is soooooooo hard for 3 and 4 year olds to understand.  We had a couple frantic unwrapping moments but for the most part they did ok.

 Our favorite was when Charlie opened his fire truck.  He was over the moon excited.  My fire truck, my fire truck, did you see my fire truck mom?!!!!?  He didn't even know he wanted one..

 My favorite were these new boots John picked out for me.  When I opened the box I literally burst into tears.  Maybe pregnancy hormones, maybe really cute boots, either way I love these boots.  Unfortunately though I will have to wait until I have the baby to wear them because my legs are like swollen stuffed sausages right now.  So unfair...

 Jack loved his remote control cars.  So much better than the lame side ways bow and arrow set that he asked for.

 John loved his new coat.  If you see John in this coat you should ask him if you can try it on.  I don't know what this coat is made out of but it is the warmest, softest coat I've ever seen.  John says it feels like a hug. 

We cleaned everything thing up and everyone put their stuff in their boxes waiting to find a permanent home.

 After it was all said and done we had our "real" breakfast.

And I went to my room to enjoy my other fun present from John.  Nursing my new baby is going to be so much more enjoyable with my new tv.

 At one point this afternoon I found all 4 kids playing with their presents in the boys room.  Awwwww, that's what it's all about..

 We got lots of visitors all day and the kids were in heaven showing off all their cool stuff.

 Then before dinner we ventured over to the skate park across the street to try out Jack's new remote control car. 

 And run around..

 John and I thought and thought about what we wanted to do for dinner when I was going shopping last week.  I wanted it to be special and fun but I DIDN'T want to be cooking all day.  This is what we came up with and oh boy, my kids loved it.  We never ever get this kind of food so they thought the little compartments were like the coolest things ever.

 Charlie was so exhausted by 6:00 that he fell asleep, head first, into the ipad.  Such a fun Christmas this year!