Christmas Morning

Christmas always comes a couple of days early around our house.  We have serious connections to Santa Claus.  It was a good thing we'd planned to open presents early because I don't think the kids could have made it another day.  I was pretty sure that Ian was going to have a nervous breakdown somewhere around December 5th because he didn't think he could wait to open his presents.

We went Christmas caroling the night before, another one of our Christmas traditions.  The highlight for us was caroling to Ian's teacher assistant.  She lives in our neighborhood and lost her father to heart problems a week after Cory's dad passed away.  So we feel a connection to her on several different levels.  After our rendition of "Away in a Manger" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", she gave hugs to everyone with tears of gratitude in her eyes.  Her appreciation meant a lot to us and we enjoyed singing to her.  Cory's mom came back to our house after the caroling and spent the night so she could see the kids on Christmas morning.  Elise woke up at 5:30, but we managed to hold her off until a little later when everyone woke up.

We always start the present opening with the youngest child.  Paige's "big" present this year was this cute rocking horse.  She rides on a wooden one at Cory's mom's house all the time, so we thought this would be a sure-fire hit.  We couldn't have been more wrong.  She's terrified of it.  This is the only picture we have of her on it and she's in the process of launching herself off the side of it.  Apparently the fur is really scary.  Not to mention the cute sounds it makes when you press its ear.  Also scary.  We hope after seeing it around the house for a while, she'll get used to it.  That has not yet happened.  We shall see.

We did get a cute picture of Ian riding the little pony, in hopes that that would ease Paige's fears.  It didn't.  But Ian sure looks cute.

I have no idea what she's opening, but Merry Grace is at that adorable age where each gift is magical.  This facial expression is priceless.  And we saw it with every gift.  So, so, so cute!!!

Elise opened a couple of wii games that she's been wanting for ages.  I think she was thrilled! :)  And honestly, I've enjoyed playing them as much as she has.  Love it when that happens.

We did manage to get one gift for Paige that she liked--this cute baby doll.  It makes a sound when it drinks his bottle and cries when you take it away.  She played with it through most of the present opening.

Again with the excited face.  Oh my.  Have I mentioned how cute this little sassy gal is?  Well, she is. :)  My favorite thing is that in the second picture she's opening a pair of corduroy pants.  Isn't it great that she can be so excited over a pair of pants?

Ian had a lot of Tarheel gear on his Christmas list this year.  A lot.  This is a pair of sunglasses with the tarheel logo on the side.  I think he was thrilled.

So I have to say that Christmas was a success this year.  We loved being together, sharing in some of our favorite traditions and feeling the love of our Savior in our hearts. Christmas was wonderful.  Just wonderful.