The kids wrote a letter to Santa asking that he come on Saturday the 24th this year. They were wondering if Santa GOT their letter....especially Iris. But got it he did, and he CAME a day early!!!!
Even using my phone to take a picture....that Kellyn can't stop looking at! That sneaky man.
The entryway to the living room was wrapped in wrapping paper but I was on the other side of the room video-taping their entrance.
It was EMERSON'S reaction I couldn't get enough of.
He and Camden had been saving their money up for 5-6 months to earn enough for this certain huge Lego set. They almost got enough before I convinced them that they should buy other things that last longer than Legos.....Anyway, they got the set they've been wanting for over a year.
And here's the video of their entrance. I also love Bronson's smile and "whoa" after seeing his UNC shoes, the girls squeals and Camden telling me Santa must've forgotten he doesn't like beef jerkey.....#jerk
Iris for some reason was SO happy about the Tic-tacs in her stocking and wanted me to take a picture of her with them.
And now for a few pics of some of the presents......
the girls with their dress-ups.
Bronson with all his clothes (I can't believe I have a kid at this level!)
Camden with his Steph Currys..... why is my camera so blurry in all these pics. Darn.
Everly loved just pushing around her baby in her shopping cart...and heels. Because who doesn't go shopping in heels?
I know I said it above, but Emerson seriously gives the BEST reactions. He wanted a huge stuffed animal....like a lot. I'm sure he didn't think it would be in the box. But as soon as he opened it, his hands went up to his head again (like they did in the movie). He is SO funny.
Clearly he is pleased
Iris and Aleeya got some soft mermaid tails.
One thing Aleeya asked for was a "teacher's chair". I know it sounds ridiculous and we weren't going to get her one until I saw how her hiney was glued to it when we went to the hotel last month. This is her reaction when she opened up the box and saw it was a "teacher's chair".
I call it the disappearing-grateful-eye trick
The kids got these small packages from my mom/Grams. When I helped Royce open it up I saw a little baggy of bottle caps and then this:
It was my dad's handwriting and it hit me hard. I obviously wasn't expecting to receive anything with his handwriting on it and immediately my eyes told me so. What a treasure.
It's a pamphlet he actually wrote in 1969 about how to properly flip bottle caps. And he WAS an expert having nailed the mailman or any passer-by from his roof with my older brothers.
The girls got bracelets to remember him. My favorite was the colorful one Aleeya and Iris got with the Brazilian coin on it reminding them of their worth.
The babies just crawled around in all the paper and finding things to suck on. They were so good and didn't even "ask" or want a bottle for over a hour after they woke up.
Iris got the kitchen she wanted.
The boys with all their new shoes/socks and hoodies.
Here's Kellyn trying to find someone to give her silly string to because she didn't want in on the upcoming silly string war. #prissyprincess
We ate a quick Christmas breakfast pizza meal
and then the kids were off to their rooms or other areas to play with their goods.
The boys of course to their Lego-den
and recruited Bronson into helping them.
the finished product
The good thing about being in a larger family is that SOMEONE always has a gift that will be fun to play with. So it's like they get a lot of gifts if you include everyone else's. haha
Here are the girls and Royce playing with his Bey Blades
Iris playing with Kellyn and Everly's tea sets...and then later moved into Iris' new kitchen with actual food from their stockings. The endless binge-tea-set-eating lasted all day.
The mermaids
My tired man....
Now she is Minnie, pushing her twins.....
More Bey Blade playing......#hoursofplaying #nokidding
And some more....
I love this picture of my bookends..... even if Bronson is feeding Iley some of his pixie stix. :/
I don't know what Aleeya loved more.....the teachers chair, or the actual BUILDING of the teacher's chair with Dad and his drill.
The beautiful thing about Christmas and what I probably love MOST about it, is that it is SO relaxing and enjoyable for me. We stay around the house and play all day. I curl up with my new book from Pat and then fall asleep for a nap. We just put out Clementines, pistachios, Izze drinks and Christmas goodies (from friends and neighbhors) to snack on all day. No making of food is required after breakfast. We don't have to get ready for anything, no errands, no one leaves or no one comes over. No texts from work or phonecalls saying he needs to come in. It's like a little bubble of perfection. And everyone is actually playing so nicely together......one day of the whole year. And it's BEAUTIFUL.
Once the twins were down for afternoon naps we had our annual silly string war outside.
(the kids didn't know Brooks and I each had an extra one) haha
Royce was so funny running up to me giggling and then spraying me as he would run away laughing some more. He was laughing a lot.
Oh, until he got hit in the face and then it was a LOT of losing it....in this position
#andthegamewenton
Bronson kept getting Aleeya good. Enough that retaliation merited a little extra help from Dad.
I love the smiles
Speaking of wars......our big gift to the kids this year were Lazer Guns. We got 8 for Brooks, myself and all the kids through Royce.
They turned out to be the biggest hit of all!
In fact, even Aleeya said it was her favorite gift.
Here the kids are ready for another round around the house.
The BEST was when we all went outside and played teams: front yard verses back yard.
Boys verses Brooks+girls
Our team BARELY won with barely winning four out of seven rounds.....thanks to Brooks climbing up on the roof and playing sniper on the boys.
The lazer tag went playing well into the night for us and was quite entertaining for my neighbors too.....one actually came out on his driveway to watch us play for a while with a big smile on his face.
These things have gotten so much use in the past week.
On the actual Christmas Day, December 25th we got all dressed up in our green and red to head to church. These girlies look so cute and fat in their coats.
There was much grumbling when Dad told them I was going to take a picture with them standing by the tree. Here is Brooks explaining something to them, probably in the form of, "Just smile quickly and it won't last long" he should have been saying, "WHY ARE YOU SURPRISED?!?!? You KNEW Mom would want one, so SUCK IT UP!"
Aleeya was NOT happy and "was NOT" going to smile......oh wait, apparently if I yell "Christmas Boogers" it makes her smile.
The church service was beautiful with a lot of music. My favorite was the violin duet of Away in a Manger, (When I told Brooks I loved that he said, "I just can't get into the violin sound.....it sounds like a lot of screeching to me" #uncultured) and tied with the beautiful words of testimony given of our Savior Jesus Christ. I really felt buoyed up and reminded of the real Reason for this Season.
As Emerson said, it was kinda the "best Christmas ever".
