Like I wrote earlier, Christmas this year was a little weird. On Christmas morning Jack was still running a low fever and having bad diapers every hour or so. Christmas Eve was really stressful and I don't think anyone really slept well. We did get to do our last night of advent and light all the candles! I am SO glad we celebrated the whole month the way we did this year. Each night we did our advent lesson around the candles, the kids hung their ornaments on the tree, we sang carols at the piano by the tree and then turned out the lights and as by the tree singing one last song in the dark with just the tree lights on. The kids also unwrapped a "gift" each morning that held some kind of Christmas activity for us to do during the day. These ended up being great. It also helped that we spread out all the traditional activities throughout the month and were not trying to make cookies, gingerbread houses, ornaments, put on the Christmas play, go caroling, have Christmas movies and hot chocolate all in a couple of days... Especially since the days right around the holiday were less than ideal. I feel like we really celebrated the holiday and the true meaning all month.
Here are the "santa" gifts.
Jack got a push trike to help him learn how to pedal. He has already learned!!! He also got roller skates and a grabbing toy.
Grace got magnetic darts, roller blades, walkie talkies (high on he list of wants) and a little metal magnet game.
The tree at night before bed. So pretty. I miss it now. We really do have a perfect Christmas house.
Christmas morning. It rained buckets all day long. I've never seen rain like this rain since we've lived here... And this is Louisiana, people. It was a cold rain and it was fabulous... But I love rainy days. I love how they automatically make your home feel more cozy. And I love the sound on the metal awnings over the windows on the west side of the house.
Fireplace, mantle, tree, lights, cold rain... I am so thankful that we have our own house this year and that we were able to be in it on Christmas morning!
The kids loved every single gift they received! It took us about 2 1/2 hours to open all the gifts because they wanted to play with each little thing they got.
Grace had the biggest box this year. She was so surprised to be the recipient of this package! Good old aunt MA! And the present inside was not too shabby at all...
A jeep, trailer, stall, fence and two horses and and rider! The horses were immediately named Katy and Barney (and have since been changed to Nick and Sally).
Bruder Toys = Awesome and Not made in China... Made in Germany and the difference is totally obvious. Thanks Aunt MA! The kids have played with this stuff at least 3 times a day every day since Christmas!
And we had to wait till it stopped raining two days later to play in Nana and Paw Paws gift...
A playhouse!
With a DOORBELL!
Grace has determined that she's "Gonna have some friends over and drink lemonade and talk about stuff". Jack is going to play "Sonic" (a fav of the Nida kids) and serve up some tater tots and lemon berry slushes.
And although the kids truly loved and were very very appreciative of ALL the things they received (I love this about my kids, by the way) when asked the top gifts were...
Jack: harmonica.
Grace: Whoopie Cushion.
