On Christmas Eve we went down to David & Kara's for a Christmas Eve brunch. It was fun to spend time together and the boys LOVE their cousins and playing with them. They all fell asleep on the way home around 1:00, so we knew, coupled with their excitement for Christmas, they would have a hard time getting to sleep.
Ali was in the bedroom with Mom & Dad while we were wrapping a few presents on Christmas Eve. She liked playing in the boxes and with the extra paper. She is really into everything this year.
We took pictures of the kids in their Christmas pajamas. It was hard to get a picture of all three of them because Alison kept wandering away. They looked so cute. We were worried whether Aaron would wear his Thomas the Train pajamas. He loves Thomas the Train, but he is kind of particular about his clothes and it usually takes a few times of trying to get him to wear something new before he actually does (his "football" pants and shirt are only for football games, apparently). But, Aaron went in and said, I love Thomas the Train and the pj's were on lickety-split.
We tried to get the kids to bed around 8:00, but it was at least 10:00 before I was able to leave their room. Lately, Aaron has wanted me to sleep with him. I usually fall asleep before they do, but at least they stay in their room. Then Mom and Dad went to bed shortly after 11:00 and Santa came and left so many fun surprises.On Christmas morning Nathan came into our room at 6:30. He passed by the tree and some of the things Santa had left, but he didn't see everything. He told us that Santa had come and there were lots of presents and even something by the fireplace. We told him he had to wait until 7:00 to go in. He asked about every 2 minutes what time it was and how much longer it would be. At 7:00 exactly he bounded out of bed and ran into Aaron's room to wake him up. Aaron was a little out of it but he was excited and got out of bed. Then we had to wake up Alison. She was pleasant even though she wasn't thrilled to be out of bed. I went into the living room first and turned on the Christmas tree lights and then the boys came out. They were so excited. They looked at the presents first and then ran over to wear Santa had left a shake and go race car track for Aaron. It was hard to get Aaron to open up anything else. All morning he would keep going back and watching the cars go around. Nathan and Ali liked it a lot, too.
We did open our other presents and Nathan found a scooter that Santa had left for him behind the chair. He was riding it around the house and was doing really well. He even took it over to Grandma and Grandpa Taylor's and after brunch he went outside with Aaron, Kyle, and Luke and they all rode scooters around. It was nice enough weather for them to enjoy it.
Ali really got into unwrapping the presents. She was pretty good at pulling that paper off. She got a fox and a book from Grandma and Grandpa Hillstead and gave it a hug. She also got a cute hat, an art set, which she put to good use, and "Beauty and the Beast" on blu-ray. Luckily, we got we asked for from Santa as well- a Blu-ray player. Our DVD player was having issues for a few weeks, and about a week before Christmas it just about died - it may have had something to do with Aaron putting a graham cracker in it - so we were excited that Santa was able to get one for us!
Nathan and Aaron got what they wanted from Santa as well - a batcopter and batmobile to go with their batcave. The kids were so excited and played with everything all morning. We even had to put together the Air Force One airplane that the boys got from Grandma and Grandpa Hillstead. And, of course, they all kept going back to the racetrack. We had to hurry and get them dressed so we could make it over to Grandma and Grandpa Taylor's for Christmas brunch at 11:00. Ali had a little something to eat, but the boys were too busy, so they ate well at the yummy brunch we had.
After brunch we opened more presents from Grandma and Grandpa, Kyle, Luke and Jake, and Aunt OhMy and Uncle Duke. They got so many fun toys - a cash register, grocery cart, and race track for Nathan. A sleeping bag, fire engine house, and a "Cars" set that attaches to his GeoTrax for Aaron. Ali got some cute clothes, a baby doll and a little pram (baby carriage) to carry her in. It has been non-stop fun at our house since Christmas. The kids love their new toys.
After we got home we skyped Grandma and Grandpa Hillstead. It was so fun to see them and talk to them. They sure are busy. Alison kept wanting to touch them on the computer screen. She loved seeing Grandma and Grandpa. The boys showed them their toys and Nathan even rode on his scooter for them. Ali pushed her baby in her pram, and Aaron was just running back and forth and around between his toys and talking to them. We miss them and wish they were closer, but are so proud of them for serving a mission and grateful for all they have given to use and continue to give us through their examples and love.So now it's the 28th of December. The tree is down, the decorations put away, and the toys beginning to get organized. I need to find a way to put everything away so it's not always out! We're getting there. We rearranged our living room a little. We moved the computer upstairs, took the TV that we haven't used for a year off of the mantle, and moved the chairs a bit. I really like it. Now I just need to find a nice picture of the temple or the Savior for above our fireplace. Ron & Kathy gave me money for Christmas towards a new picture, so I'm looking forward to getting that. I've already been in Deseret Book briefly and looked online. Any suggestions - on a picture or decorating- would be greatly appreciated. I'm not so good.
I love Christmas time, but I also love putting everything back and looking forward to the New Year and a fresh start. It feels good in our home. The kids are playing well with each other - dogs again today. Unfortunately, even with all the toys, they have still managed to make their bed into a slide while I have been writing this post...some things haven't changed! The slide serves a dual purpose - it creates a dog house for them, too. It's hard to get upset with them for being so cute. We'll just have to get it put back together...at some point.
