I couldn't believe it! 10:45 p.m. and every present was wrapped and under the tree, cookies set out for Santa, kids asleep in bed, and Shayne and I were enjoying a last minute snack! I don't think that has ever happened in my history of Christmas Eves as a parent! And to what do I attribute such holiday success? S-T-R-E-S-S! I have NEVER been so busy, done so much, or helped so many people at Christmas time as I did this year. But, that's an entirely different blog entry...
So, where was I? Oh, yes. The children had visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads--that is, until 6:15 a.m. when Fynn and Dane crept down the hall and climbed into our bed. We let them push and poke us until 7:00, then began the festivities. As usual, the kids about died at the top of the steps waiting for me to turn on all the lights, set up the camcorder (with which we continued to experience technical difficulty all morning) and take their "waiting to see what Santa brought" picture (full of rosy glow from the Christmas lights). We finally released them where they screeched downstairs and began checking out the loot!
Natasha was thrilled to get books and a new, very adult camera (a Nikon, nonetheless...what a traitor Santa is! Doesn't he remember this house only shoots Canon??) Connor was thrilled to open the Devastator transformer (that splits up into several smaller transformers) and Dane was giddy over his Hot Wheels and Lego sets. Fynn was quickly driving around the kitchen on her new princess scooter and demanding to be dressed in her Cinderella dress and crown.
So, where was I? Oh, yes. The children had visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads--that is, until 6:15 a.m. when Fynn and Dane crept down the hall and climbed into our bed. We let them push and poke us until 7:00, then began the festivities. As usual, the kids about died at the top of the steps waiting for me to turn on all the lights, set up the camcorder (with which we continued to experience technical difficulty all morning) and take their "waiting to see what Santa brought" picture (full of rosy glow from the Christmas lights). We finally released them where they screeched downstairs and began checking out the loot!
Natasha was thrilled to get books and a new, very adult camera (a Nikon, nonetheless...what a traitor Santa is! Doesn't he remember this house only shoots Canon??) Connor was thrilled to open the Devastator transformer (that splits up into several smaller transformers) and Dane was giddy over his Hot Wheels and Lego sets. Fynn was quickly driving around the kitchen on her new princess scooter and demanding to be dressed in her Cinderella dress and crown.
And, I think the kids are almost as excited about Christmas breakfast as opening their gifts from Santa (kind of sad that having bacon and sausage added to a meal constitutes sheer pandemonium in this house!) They talk about what we are going to eat that morning for days preceding the event. I tried not to disappoint and put out a lovely spread complete with cinnamon rolls, strawberries, and omelettes. After getting that all cleaned up (a little more torture for the kids), we dove into the pile of gifts under the tree.
Shayne was surprised with a new drill, a wet-vac I got on a killer Black Friday deal (and told Shayne I hadn't been able to get it--sheesh, was that ever hard to keep a surprise for the weeks between then and Christmas! That man was determined to procure one on KSL.com or buy one off a friend!), a long black topcoat, a cool scarf and his usual plethora of DVDs. Shayne spoiled me with clothes from the only store on earth that matters (that's right, Nordies), photography books, lotions, make-up, and movies I loved as a teenager! Tash loved getting tons of clothes, some cool white boots (what am I thinking?), accessories for her camera, and a Project Runway fashion design set (yep, we both love that show!) Connor got a PS3 Transformers game, a couple of GI Joe action figures and tons of Transformers. Fynn received two "Sleeping Nudie" dolls--one that sings and a soft, cuddly one. She also loved her new books, movie, and especially her new pink boom box and Princess songs CD. She carried it all over the house as we listened to it ad nauseum! Dane was thrilled to get books, movies and LEGO Rock Band...but he couldn't quite figure out how he was going to play it since we didn't have Rock Band! We finally let them in our family present--down in the basement was Rock Band ready for playing! The kids were stoked and spent a fair amount of time singing their little hearts out to it!
In the afternoon, Grammy Su and Grandpa Bar stopped by to check out the gifts and then headed home to get ready for our descent on their house for Christmas dinner. We ended the evening jamming to the Beatles Rock Band they got at their house that morning! Boy, did that bring back some memories of my junior high days when I listened to nothing but the Beatles! I would have stayed all night if I hadn't noticed the hubs falling asleep in the corner (guess he didn't quite share my passion for the mop-topped band.) It was a fantastic day and I was so grateful for the gifts, for my family's happiness, and for it coming to a lovely end...
i love your christmas decor!
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