I know, Christmas isn't all about the presents. But I really love giving presents to my kids! And I love to see them get so excited to give each other gifts too! Its really a magical morning!
Its been a long time since we've had color lights on a tree and I have to admit I kind of loved it! Christmas morning Abe came up to our room around 4:30 (he has a hard time sleeping at Grandma's). And from that point on I had a hard time sleeping! So when it was finally 6:30 I got up and started making some noise to hopefully get the kids up. (I do it every year!) I had to guide them past the tree and upstairs into our room and then their grandparent's room for our traditional family prayer and song before opening any gifts.
Then our first stop was checking out their stockings! They were all stoked that they got Pokemon tins with their stockings. They could have looked at those for at least another hour, but we had places we needed to be so we had to draw a line somewhere!
Abe was only interested in the candy.
When we finally tore them away from their stockings (and cards) we went down to open presents by the tree. It was so fun!
This year Ethan and I weren't sure if we would continue the homemade gift exchange with the kids or not, but they started asking about it and all really, really wanted to do it, so we exchanged names and everyone got to work thinking about what they could make for their person...
Abe got Bryant, so I made Bryant this bow tie. He loves bow ties, and ended up getting 3 total this year, so it wasn't anything amazing, but it is the only one that he gets to tie!
Bolton made Jonas this awesome superhero mask. When Abe got the red one at Ethan's work party Jonas kept stealing it and stretching it out and so Bolton figured it was the perfect gift. I was pretty impressed that he came up with such a thoughtful idea and something that he could actually do. He helped me cut it out and hot glue it together.
Eliza made Bolton this awesome matching game with pictures and words to help Bolton learn to read. She did just about all the work herself. I was a dummy and forgot to bring it to Utah, so he got to open one more gift when we got home. He loved it! And she loved playing it with him. Win-win!
Levi made Abraham this awesome little Pikachu. Can you tell the kids are a bit obsessed with Pokemon right now? I had to help him with some of the hard parts, but he designed it and sewed most of it himself. He did a great job!
Jonas got to make a gift for his dad and we waited until we were in Utah to do it so Grandpa Hoss could help him. I think its really cool, a place for all the stuff Ethan takes off or out of his pockets at the end of the day. Keys, watch, wallet (in the hole on the right), a pen, loose change (in the back), and a charging station for his phone. My dad did most of the cutting, but Jonas worked hard to sand it all down nice and smooth.
Bryant chose to make this big stuffed Pokemon, Eevee, for Levi. It was quite a project! But it turned out really great and Levi loves it (so does Bryant-he said before he gave it away that if Levi didn't love it that he would be happy to keep it). Bryant did most all the sewing on this project and it wasn't easy, he did great.
I got to make something for Eliza and since she got this doll for Christmas- its a Madame Alexander doll and its beautiful- I decided to make her some additional clothes for her doll. I made this skirt, apron and chef hat and a dress that sort of matches one of Eliza's dresses.
Ethan had me and he designed and sewed this awesome eye mask with removable rice bags. He's my eye doc, so he knows that I'm supposed to be doing a warm compress a couple times a day... What a sweet heart to make it easier for me! I don't have a picture of it right because I was taking all the pictures on Christmas!
After the gifts were opened, of course the kids wanted to play. So dad, got right to work putting things together.
While Grandma Jane opened up her giant stocking gift from Grandpa Woody. And then she brought him his gifts.
Then it was time to rush to Grandma and Grandpa Hoss' house where we ate more cinnamon rolls and opened another present. Man, we're so spoiled! We all got shirts and money from my parents, woohoo! They are so generous and kind. I didn't get any pictures there for some reason... sorry Mom!
Then it was back to the Woody house for another party with more food and more... you guessed it, presents! Grandma Jane and Grandpa Woody gave all the kids some awesome gifts! Abraham got this giant Little People set.
Bolton was thrilled that he got a big, new Transformer.
Eliza was excited to bring home a shiny, new scooter.
Levi received a really cool plane that he had to build out of blocks (likes Legos) that were clear and then it came with a stand that you plug it all together and it lights up in different ways. It is really neat!
Jonas got his Imaginext set! A giant castle. Seriously, my jaw dropped when I saw how big it was (and how big Abe's was...) thinking about how I was possibly going to fit it all in the van to drive home!
Bryant was stoked (as you can see) with his new Sonic Screwdrivers, he also got a bow tie from them but he didn't see it until later. Its a money tie and it was the first of his ties that he wore to church. When I asked him about it, he said, "Well, you know I like to be eccentric..." Grandma Jane was smart to choose it for him!
Then it was time for the cousin gift exchange! I love doing this exchange and feel bad that we don't do it with my family. My kids love choosing something for their cousin. And they love getting something from another cousin as well. I didn't get a picture of all of them... its kind of a miracle that I have as many pictures as I do... this party is utter mayhem. Abe got Toy Story figurines from Ike.
Levi couldn't have been more excited with his Kendama from one of Kim and Brindy's kids.
And Bryant love, love, loves his Dr. Who fez and bow tie! He informed me, he'll be wearing this bow tie to church next week. The fez is his new favorite hat in his collection.
I really wanted to get back out to my parent's that evening, but we were all so tired and the kids wanted to enjoy their gifts, and Ethan and I needed to load up the car and blah, blah, blah... we didn't make it back out to see my family. But it was still an awesome Christmas! We were definitely spoiled rotten with gifts and family time and love. It was amazing!
