Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas, as always!  It seemed to pass in a blur..as always as well, but probably more this year since we were a bit sleep deprived with a new baby.  Santa was very generous..as always!!

Hunter was the first to wake up.  He found me feeding the baby in bed.  He climbed in and I turned on some cartoons for him.  After about 15 minutes, he suddenly realized it was Christmas.  "Did Santa come?"  He asked.  I told him yes he did.  "Can I go see?"  I followed him to the front room and it was so fun to see him marvel over the gifts.  He noticed these trucks right away and asked who they were for.  He was delighted when I said they were for him!  We actually got both trucks for him, but he immediately chose one for himself and announced that Jacob could have the other one.  I thought that was so sweet of him.  He is always thinking about Jacob.

Jacob joined us a short time later and it didn't take long for them to wake Trevor up who was trying to get some sleep on the couch.  I don't remember how much we were awake during the night with the baby, but I do remember being very tired on Christmas!

I love everything about Christmas.  I love surprising the kids and seeing how excited they get.  I love how happy everyone is.  I love spending time with our families.  It is just hands-down, the best day of the entire year. 

O.K.  After looking at this picture, I did think of one not so fun part about Christmas.  Opening ALL that packaging!  It is such a pain to unravel each toy out of the wire tie or have to bust out the screwdriver just to set the toy free from it's packaging.  Plus then you have toys that need to be opened via screwdriver just to install batteries.  Then it usually takes at least 2-3 weeks to be able to fit it all of that packaging in the recycle bin.  Those are my least favorite things about Christmas!

This robot was another disappointment.  Santa got it last January during after-Christmas clearance and sat on it until Christmas.  When we opened it to take it for a spin, it would not work.  I contacted the company and they wouldn't do anything for me since it had already been 90 days since purchase.  It was so sickening to have to throw that brand new toy away and eat the cost, even if it was on clearance!  Santa has definitely learned his lesson and won't be buying any electronic toys to save for the next Christmas unless they are test-driven immediately!  We gave Jacob a replacement robot, a remote controlled R2D2, which he has barely touched since he got it.  I guess that is how new toys go!  Especially when you get so many in one day!

I am kind of sad this is the only Christmas Day picture I have with Adam in it.  He basically slept all day and only woke up to eat.  Nobody in our family believes he is ever really awake!  I should call them at 2 a.m. and prove them wrong!

I loved this picture of Hunter peering in a bag that is about half his size!

He had picked all these cars out at Kohl's during one of our pre-Christmas shopping trips.  I was sure to take a picture of them so Santa would know exactly which ones to get.  He was very pleased!

As if Jacob's head wasn't already big enough!

After we opened all our presents, we headed to Nauni & Papa's for the traditional Christmas morning there.

This was another toy Hunter had picked out on his own.  He LOVES Cars and had to open them immediately to play with them!  While all the other kids were playing outside, Hunter wanted to be inside playing with his cars.

Jacob's new favorite..Star Wars!

I have seen this face before..it was last year when Jacob opened a gift and found clothes..I don't think they are very exciting for him!

Two cute rear ends!

The boys have been begging for Pillow Pets.  These are Pillow Pals sold at Costco and they are WAY better!  They are HUGE next to regular Pillow Pets and the price was way more reasonable!  Thanks Nauni & Papa!

After Trevor's parent's, we went to mine to say hi and have the boys open presents.  I was feeding the baby in my mom's room and didn't have the camera handy.  I'm disappointed there are no pictures at my parent's house this year!!  The other kids open their presents Christmas night, but I like to go in the afternoon when things are quiet and not as chaotic.  This year, my entire family was here for Christmas.  Scott is getting ready to leave on his mission and it was so nice to have the whole group together.  I'm a little sad that I wasn't able to really get to spend time with anyone.  Having a newborn was pretty time consuming and I felt like if I had any free time, I should be sleeping. 

Hunter got his first real bike this year.  He couldn't wait to take it to the cul de sac for the first ride.  Trevor takes Jacob there to practice riding and Hunter was happy to have his own big bike to ride!

After dinner at Trevor's parent's and a quick visit to mine that evening, our Christmas day was over.  It always makes me a little sad that it's all done and it will be a whole year before we can enjoy it again.  It is equally depressing to take all the decorations down.  I feel like this season just flew by so quickly.  I know it's partially because of the baby.  I am already looking forward to next year!

We hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas!