Christmas Day 2010

I promise this is the last Christmas 2010 post. I didn't want to leave you hanging on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Day was full of excitement and a bit of sickness, too. Ben and Tate were the first to get up so we roused Ada Grace and Cora so that we could all enjoy Christmas morning together. Cora wasn't feeling so well and wasn't much into it. Actually, she was really pitiful. We first went through the stockings, then we started on the Santa gifts. A few years ago, Santa quit wrapping presents for our family. Maybe he is going green. Maybe he knows that there are anal parents in this house who couldn't handle the mass amounts of flying wrapping paper on Christmas morning. Perhaps, Santa himself is also anal and is just as concerned as parents are that items are going to accidentally get thrown away or lost during the mass unwrapping and throwing away of wrapping paper. Or, maybe he just doesn't really care for wrapping presents.

Anyway, a few years ago Santa started putting the kids' presents in laundry baskets, unwrapped. The kids like it and we LOVE it. We are able to see each of their expressions when they see what they have gotten, we don't have to be worried with getting the wrapping paper up and out of the way, and it is just SO. MUCH.MORE. ENJOYABLE. One year, Santa even took all the toys out of the box and we didn't have to wrangle with those stinking little twisties and other torture devices trying to get the toys out of the box on Christmas morning. Santa must have been especially busy this year because he left that for us to do on Christmas morning. But, you know, we gotta give the big guy a break...he's a busy fellow.

Here is Ada Grace's basket of goodies....

Here is Cora's basket of toys...

Here we are with all of our baskets in the middle of the floor, looking glorious, early on Christmas morning...

Ben's Christmas basket...

Tate's basket of gadgets...(I know, I know... Tate's basket is not overflowing like the others, but big kids get little toys with big price tags...if you know what I'm sayin')

We pulled the baskets out to the middle of our living room and the kids started digging through them. Cora mainly just looked briefly, then asked if we could turn the T.V. on in the bedroom so that she could lay back down. Pitiful. Poor girl just felt yucky. So, we let her go back to bed and continued to open up the boxes of toys for the other kids.

Our family came over for lunch and to see the kids' new toys. Then, we had such a great surprise! A White Christmas! It started snowing! Ada's first Christmas and it was a White Christmas! Ah, the joy!

Happy 8th birthday, Tate!

7 months old

Ada Grace is 7 months old today!!!

Happy 7 month birthday, sweet Baby Ada!!!

Christmas Eve 2010

On Christmas Eve, we went to my mama and daddy's house to have steak and salmon. And, of course to open presents! The kids had not been feeling well (at this point, Tate had run a fever for 8 days, Ben was on day 4, Cora was on day 2, and Ada was showing signs of being sick, but no fever) so before we left, I had them all open one present from us - Christmas pajamas! They had all been staying in their pj's for most of the Christmas break already, so they were delighted to have a new pair and get to wear them out to my mama's.

To say that Christmas had arrived at my mama's would be an understatement. The amount of presents under the tree was enormous! We barely had a place to walk or sit!

The kids really enjoyed opening all their presents and received a variety of cool gifts. Some of the following were the highlights of the night:

For Cora, the unicorn pillow pet was a huge hit.

Tate was super excited over the skateboard and indoor basketball hoop.

Ben loved his dragon ship and keyboard!

And Ada, well, she was just looking at us all in amazement, wondering what in the world was happening.




After we finished up at my parents, we headed back home to open a few more presents. Craig and I had gotten the kids a few small items, the kids had gotten each other a few items, and then Craig and I exchanged gifts that we purchased for one another on behalf of the kids and each other. It was lots of fun!

Now, for a little back story regarding the kids' gift-giving. This year was the first year that we had "required" the kids to buy something for one another. A couple of weeks ago, I came up with the idea that since they have been earning money that maybe this would be a good year for them to use their own money to buy each other a small ($2-$5) gift. I thought it would be fun for them to pick it out, buy it, etc. I wanted them to also see how much fun gift giving can be so that they would focus on the giving part instead of just the getting part.

Well, when we first told them of the idea, let's just say we weren't greeted with the warm, fuzzy enthusiasm that I had hoped for. It was more like, " What??? We have to spend our own money???"

Tate was the first to come around to the idea. I think it was mainly because he had a lot of saved money so he was thinking he could spare a few dollars for gifts. Ben was having issues because he had a few dollar bills and a $20 bill. He was concerned because he didn't want to spend his $20 bill. Cora told me she didn't want to buy anyone a gift and when I told her that if she didn't buy them a gift that she would not get one from them, she replied, " I don't care. I just buy my own self sumpin". Well, there you have it.

Since they were all so keen on the idea of spending their own money (which in fact was really our money that we gave them for "helping" out), it really made us want them to do it that much more.

I talked with them more about the gift giving concept, and they started to come around. Tate was really excited about it and started to come up with ideas of what to buy each sibling. Ben realized he didn't have to break his $20 so he also became excited about it, especially buying Ada a gift. Cora was a bit indifferent about it all but she didn't complain when I asked her for money.

My original plan was for Craig and I to take turns taking the kids to shop for gifts. Then, everyone started getting sick and we were running out of time. Cora and Tate each gave me money and ideas so that I could shop for them. I was going to pick out Ada's gifs for her siblings. Ben wanted to go shopping with me. So, we went to Wal-mart and he picked out his gifts and paid for them with his hard-earned money. And, I picked out the other gifts for the rest of the kids. I had to be kind of sneaky to get Ben's gifts in the bag without him seeing them and he had a small breakdown because he thought I wasn't buying him anything, but other than that the shopping trip was a success. When we returned home, each of the kids helped me wrap their gifts and label them. At this point, they were really excited about giving a gift to one another. Next year, I want to prepare a bit better. I want each one of the kids to actually go shopping with me, pick out and purchase the gifts. Ben really, really enjoyed that part and I think the others would as well.


Back to Christmas Eve, after we opened presents, we put out cookies and reindeer food, and off to bed we went. Well, some of us put out the cookies and reindeer food, while others were already in the bed. Poor girl just wasn't feeling very well!

White Christmas

Our First White Christmas

Visit with Santa 2010

Seriously, I know that I am behind, but I have to recap our Christmas. It was, after all, Ada Grace's first Christmas. So, the next few posts will be dedicated to Christmas 2010.

We shall start with our visit with Santa Claus. The school that Craig works at has an Evening with Santa every year and so that is where we choose to go see Santa. We have an "in" with the picture taking people (love DragonFly photography) so we know exactly what time Santa gets there so we are usually first or at least the first 5 in line each year to see Santa and have our pictures taken. It sure beats the mall. Plus, the Santa looks the best of all the Santas around (in my opinion.)

Since 2006, when I was pregnant with Cora, I have had to be a part of Santa pictures because of one or more of the kids being scared to death of Santa. So in order to capture the moment, I had to be in the picture. A few years ago, I smartened up. I started dressing a bit nicer so that the pictures served a dual purpose: family picture at Christmas and visit with Santa picture. Then, I got even smarter. I started having Craig dress nice as well and voila - family photo time!

This year, Cora is still not too keen on sitting on Santa's lap. So, this is the best we got!



Ben has no problem telling Santa what he wants...he even made him a list. He told Santa (much to our dismay) that he wanted an iphone. Yep, an iphone at 6 years of age. Much more to our dismay, Santa replied "I think that can be arranged". Thanks, Santa!





Ada Grace was most interested in Santa. She didn't squirm or cry. She just sat there perfectly with Santa and peered into his eyes.

What a precious doll!!

Lolly

Resolutions

So, I am not much for making resolutions because I am not that great at keeping them. But in the last few days, ideas of resolutions have been swirling in my head, so I thought I'd share. Here goes nothing.

I resolve to....

1. wear earrings more often.
2. eat healthy foods more often.
3. exercise more often.
4. blog more often.
5. laugh more often.
6. exercise patience more often.
7. read the bible more often.
8. stop everything and play with the kids "right when they ask" instead of saying "in a minute" more often.


I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy New Year!

Lolly