Merry Christmas To All!

The kids had been waiting and waiting for the arrival of Christmas.  It seemed to take forever (at least to them.)  They were filled with so much excitement and anticipation as the big day grew closer.  And then it happened...

The day they had been waiting for FINALLY arrived!!

On Christmas Eve we spent the day at Nana Judy and Popi Dave's.  The celebration started with a hunt for the pickle hiding on the tree.  The kids looked and looked and looked.  And eventually reinforcements were called in to give them some clues.  Owen was the lucky one who found the well-hidden pickle.

Looking for the pickle

Where is that pesky pickle?!?

Yippee!  Owen finally found the pickle!

After the pickle hunt, the kids were asked if they wanted to open presents.  The response was a resounding "YES!" and they eagerly ripped open present after present after present.

We spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon having fun with their new toys, playing games (like pin-the-carrot-on-the-snowman) and eating some delicious Italian food and lots of yummy desserts before heading home for Rose's beauty sleep.

That evening, we gussied ourselves up in our Christmas best for 6:00 mass.  Everyone looked dashing.

We attempted our annual Christmas Eve family photo.  It seems to get harder every year!  And after several takes and realizing that we were now late for church, this is the best we could do...at least everyone is looking at the camera.

The kids were so excited for Christmas Day, especially Owen. He had a hard time falling asleep - which meant that Santa's helpers had to make sure not to fall asleep first.  After Owen finally dozed off, it was time to get to work - Elfy bid us a fond farewell and set off for the North Pole, Baby Jesus laid out gifts for each child outside their bedroom doors, and Santa filled up their stockings and scarfed down the cookies that Owen had left out for him.  And then it was off to bed - morning would arrive way too soon!

The boys woke up early. After keeping them in bed as long as possible, at 6:45 am, there was no more stalling.  They just had to see what Baby Jesus had left for them.  

They both received fun new games from Baby Jesus.  Owen and Shane went straight to work setting up Owen's new Jurassic World Monopoly game.  

The lovely distraction lasted about an hour before Owen could no longer resist peeking in his stocking.  And Cole was right behind him!  They couldn't believe the fun things Santa had brought for them.

Cole begged Shane to read him his new book from Santa "The Day the Crayons Quit".  It's one of his favorites!  He had checked it out at the library some time back and was so excited to see it once again!  But before starting the story, Cole had the privilege of placing baby Jesus in the manger.  Happy birthday, Jesus!

Cole placing Baby Jesus in the manger

Cole with our nativity set

Reading "The Day the Crayons Quit"

After some time with their Santa gifts, all the goodies had to go back into their stockings so we could do it all over again, but this time with Rose.  We all headed to her room to wake her up at 8:00 am - an early morning wakeup call for a girl who usually sleeps past 9:00!  She did not want to come out of her bed and was quite upset that she had been woken up.  But once I mentioned presents, it was all good.  She happily came to see what Baby Jesus had left for her.

"What's this I hear about presents?!?"

"A bath toy, for me?  I LOVE baths!!"

Then the little ones gathered around the tree to open their stockings - for the 2nd time for the boys.  They sure are good sports!  Santa brought each of them a book, movie and pjs.  

After stockings, it was right onto the presents.  The kids were very eager to see what was inside their gifts from Mom and Pa.  After some trial and error over the years, we've cut way back and keep it simple with just one gift from Mom and Pa - our house is already overflowing with too much stuff!  And Baby Jesus and Santa know to keep it small - after all, they can't afford to bring extravagant gifts to every household.  

Owen quickly ripped open his gift and his face lit up as he saw the box - the Ultimate Secret Formula Lab - just want he had been so anxiously waiting for!  He had even measured his present a couple weeks back and was sure that the Formula Lab was NOT inside due to its size.  So he was pretty shocked to see that it indeed was the science lab that he had wanted.

Rose loves puppies - they are by far her favorite animal.  If you'd ask her what she wanted for Christmas, she'd respond, "Woof, woof" (although she doesn't pronounce the "f" so it's a bit more like "Woo, woo".  The next best thing to a real dog was a robotic one.

As for Cole, the only thing he wanted for Christmas was for Nana Bev to come to his house.  Since we were planning on visiting her over Christmas break at her house instead, he had to settle for a helicopter.  He LOVED it - actually we all loved it!  It's so fun to fly!

The kids couldn't have been more thrilled - they loved their new gifts.

Rose with her new woof-woof

Owen conducting an experiment

Cole amazed by his new helicopter

Owen & Cole having a blast with the helicopter

While the kids spent the morning playing, I was working away in the kitchen making my homemade cinnamon rolls.  I only make them once a year and now I remember why - they are so much work!

Cole had been busy at school making special presents for Mom and Pa.  He was so proud of his gifts and we were thrilled to receive them!  (Sadly, big third graders no longer make Christmas presents for dear old Mom and Pa).  

The kids thought that all the gifts had been opened, but we had a special surprise in store for them this year.  There was one more gift to open... an iPad Mini!  Now they can finally have a fully functioning iPad.    

We spent the entire day relaxing at home.  The little ones stayed in their jammies all day, playing with their fun new toys.  For Christmas dinner we whipped up what has become our traditional Christmas feast - snow crab, potato wedges and candied carrots.  Shane definitely was working for his meal (and ours!)  That's a lot of crab he had to crack!

We all went to bed that night with full tummies and happy hearts.  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!