Mommy and Daddy were up SUPER late (3 am) the night before Christmas so there was no stirring from us until we were woken up by a very excited little boy who rushed into our room at about 8:30 am yelling "Santa brought my ice cream maker"! We told Lane to go wake up Sissy. He tried, but she didn't budge! I finally went in to wake her up. I laid in bed with her trying to catch just a couple more minutes of sleep, but as soon as I was cozy she quickly jumped up yelling "Santa came"!
Presents all ready to be opened!
Santa came! I think all wish lists were fulfilled!
We passed out presents quickly so that the kids could open theirs before going to eat breakfast (sausage breakfast casserole and homemade cinnamon rolls (Leah's request) that Leah declared not nearly as good as the canned Pillsbury version)!
We couldn't hold them back any longer! They were so very thankful for each and every gift they opened! This makes Christmas so much fun! We took Leah and Lane shopping to buy gifts for the other two! They were so excited to see what they got each other! (Leah has her very own wrapping paper so all of the gifts from her were wrapped in pink candy cane paper that she picked out at Hobby Lobby!) She has a heart of gold and would have given each of us thirty things if we had've let her! She did all of her own shopping and wrapping!
Lane got Leah "Barbie make-up" that she had on her Christmas list. Luke had taken him shopping and the MOMENT they pulled in the garage Leah ran out to greet them, and he immediately told her that they had just bought her "Barbie make-up". Leah LOVES surprises so she was super bummed that he told her and Lane was super bummed anytime any one of us would tell him not to tell her (he didn't understand why we were telling him not to tell her the truth...Ha!)! He mentioned the Barbie make-up about ten times a day between then and Christmas. Leah was a fantastic sport and acted super surprised as she opened it! She was so excited to finally get the "Barbie make-up" that she wanted so she had no problem playing along!
Super happy kiddos!
Christmas breakfast!
Mommy and Daddy's turn to open! Luke and I have gotten each other the same gift two years in a row! Last year it was a Bluetooth iPhone speaker and this year it was a Backgammon board. No we're not 80! I told Luke recently that I used to love playing Backgammon and I thought it would be something fun we could play at night! I got him the drone he really wanted (we're not 80, but we're also not 12.....I think every man in his late 30's wanted a drone this year for Christmas) and he surprised with with a iPhone 6 Plus! More than anything I wanted a built in for the kids backpacks that he's been working really hard on!
For Christmas dinner I ordered food from one of my favorite restaurants, Ettore's, in Sacramento. It was okay, but I think next year I'll be going back to our beloved Selland's! We had ham, garlic mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, apple cranberry chutney, pecan pie and pumpkin pie and I made Luke's favorite Broccoli Rice Casserole!
Leah begged to open stockings all day long but we made her wait until after dinner!
Lauren actually didn't even open her stocking until the day after Christmas! She was just excited then as she would have been on Christmas morning!
It was an amazing Christmas that reminded us all of how truly blessed we are! The kids were blessed with lots of gifts from family and friends, and we couldn't be more thankful!
