Christmas Day

Christmas Day was great! So nice to stay at home and have absolutely nowhere to go.  Since the kids were all sleeping upstairs and the oldest three in the girls; room, we gave them very strict instructions that they couldn't come out of the room for ANYTHING until the alarm clock went off at 8:30.  Except for Ethan leaving once to use the bathroom at 7:45, they were really good to obey that rule.  At 8:30, they couldn't wait any longer and they burst into our bedroom to get us.  After getting the little boys out of wet night diapers and everyone brushing their teeth, Cody lined the up in the hall to come around the corner and see the magical living room.  Garrett escaped and followed me to the stairs and he saw all the presents.  He was sooooo excited, but then I made him wait to come down.  That made him furious!!

They found the letter that Santa left for them and Ethan read it aloud.  He thanked them for the cookies, donuts, milk, and veggies for the reindeer (this was the first year we left donuts per request of Ethan).  In the letter he said they had been pretty good this year, but they really needed to work on listening better at bedtime because it's chaos that time of night!  The kids promised they'd be better this year.

Lauren got to open our traditional Jesus present.  It's always the first gift we open and it's a little Jesus figurine and a note that says "Remember the true reason for the season..... It's a good reminder before we start ripping into presents.

Santa left a really neat firehouse/police station for the little boys.  Stockings were a lot of fun and we all got some really good stuffers!

Santa was hilarious and got me the "Totally Twilight" edition of People magazine.  He knows it will make excellent kindling for our next 'smores cookout!

Daddy found a lot of coal in his stocking!  Looks like he's been very naughty!

After we did stockings and Santa gifts, we took a break to eat breakfast.  This year it was egg/hashbrown/sausage casserole, pancakes, and OJ.

Then is was time to open everything from Mom and Dad, siblings, and grandparents!

In the late afternoon the girls wanted to use their press on nails that Santa left in their stockings.  Lauren decided she didn't want to wear them today, but Hailey wanted to and I painted the Christmas colors.

For dinner it was leftovers from our YUMMY dinner the night before!

And right now we are all camped out in the basement family room watching Home Alone.  I don't want this day to end!  It's been such a great Christmas season for us!