After all the Christmas talk, it's hard to believe it is finally Christmas! But make no mistake... the cookies left by the fireplace have been eaten and the stockings are full, so Santa must have come and gone.
We went to the 7:30 Christmas Eve service and were in bed relatively early - ready for our early morning.
I woke up earlier, of course, so I could hear Noah's door open because I wanted to catch him before he went downstairs. He was up about 6:45. We convinced him to come in to our room to go potty and sit with daddy while I got Abby around. Then we let him go in to get Benjamin.
We posed at the top of the steps knowing that getting a shot of them together once they got downstairs would be impossible. For the record, Noah does NOT approve of our stalling tactics. He did humor us - this year anyway. Santa learned an important lesson, however, --> SAVE THE BIG PRESENT FOR LAST. While I thought they might be most excited about this gift, I forgot to take into consideration that it would bring about many chances for arguing which no parents should have to listen to the first 3 minutes of Christmas. Problem is, no one wants to play the guitar when drums are involved. So, once the drumsticks were put away, we were able to get on with our morning. Well, sort of... We started with our stockings and Benjamin made it to one present. He opened his toothbrush and headed upstairs. "Help! Help me! I need water! Brush teeth! Help me!" Eventually he made his way back downstairs with cup and toothbrush in hand. It took us awhile, but we did get all his presents open.
(These are his presents left under the tree after every one else was all done and upstairs eating breakfast.) Noah, on the other hand, was all about it. He tore through his stuff but did take time to enjoy each one. I'll give you one guess what he was most excited about.
(He actually wore this all morning, to grandma's, and through lunch, and more presents.) Benjamin got some too but thought they were "scary" so he didn't want to wear anything just yet. But his hooded towel from Uncle Joel? That was another story...
We marked each gift with the letter of each name so Noah could pass them out. He was such an efficient elf that he also helped open most of the presents.
The boys picked out their own presents for daddy. Benjamin (with a little help from mommy) chose a Star Wars Mr. Potato Head. Noah gave him soap.
(You might be surprised as to how long we stood in the soap aisle so he could pick out just the right one. He finally narrowed it down to Tone coconut milk with a lovely brown flowered wrapping, in case you were wondering.) Around lunch time we headed to the grandparents'. After a yummy brunch, it was more presents.
Noah got more costumes which meant we were changing clothes every 3 minutes.
Benjamin was most excited about Abby's new gumball machine.
We stayed and played all afternoon. Abby didn't want to miss anything so she didn't nap for long at any point. (Mommy did get about a half an hour out of her at one point.) But what was most impressive was what happened with Benjamin.
What a special present for mommy - two baby naps in one day! All in all, it was a wonderful day. We hope yours was too.
(Post script: Yes, these pictures were taken after Christmas but we were unable to capture the kiddos in their Christmas get-ups when they actually wore them out of the house, so we had a special posing party. And, for the record - the holding hands? NOT the parents' idea. The boys came up with that all on their own. How cute is that??)
We went to the 7:30 Christmas Eve service and were in bed relatively early - ready for our early morning. 
I woke up earlier, of course, so I could hear Noah's door open because I wanted to catch him before he went downstairs. He was up about 6:45. We convinced him to come in to our room to go potty and sit with daddy while I got Abby around. Then we let him go in to get Benjamin. 
We posed at the top of the steps knowing that getting a shot of them together once they got downstairs would be impossible. For the record, Noah does NOT approve of our stalling tactics. He did humor us - this year anyway. Santa learned an important lesson, however, --> SAVE THE BIG PRESENT FOR LAST. While I thought they might be most excited about this gift, I forgot to take into consideration that it would bring about many chances for arguing which no parents should have to listen to the first 3 minutes of Christmas. Problem is, no one wants to play the guitar when drums are involved. So, once the drumsticks were put away, we were able to get on with our morning. Well, sort of... We started with our stockings and Benjamin made it to one present. He opened his toothbrush and headed upstairs. "Help! Help me! I need water! Brush teeth! Help me!" Eventually he made his way back downstairs with cup and toothbrush in hand. It took us awhile, but we did get all his presents open. 
(These are his presents left under the tree after every one else was all done and upstairs eating breakfast.) Noah, on the other hand, was all about it. He tore through his stuff but did take time to enjoy each one. I'll give you one guess what he was most excited about. 
(He actually wore this all morning, to grandma's, and through lunch, and more presents.) Benjamin got some too but thought they were "scary" so he didn't want to wear anything just yet. But his hooded towel from Uncle Joel? That was another story...
We marked each gift with the letter of each name so Noah could pass them out. He was such an efficient elf that he also helped open most of the presents.
The boys picked out their own presents for daddy. Benjamin (with a little help from mommy) chose a Star Wars Mr. Potato Head. Noah gave him soap. 
(You might be surprised as to how long we stood in the soap aisle so he could pick out just the right one. He finally narrowed it down to Tone coconut milk with a lovely brown flowered wrapping, in case you were wondering.) Around lunch time we headed to the grandparents'. After a yummy brunch, it was more presents. 
Noah got more costumes which meant we were changing clothes every 3 minutes.
Benjamin was most excited about Abby's new gumball machine.
We stayed and played all afternoon. Abby didn't want to miss anything so she didn't nap for long at any point. (Mommy did get about a half an hour out of her at one point.) But what was most impressive was what happened with Benjamin. 
What a special present for mommy - two baby naps in one day! All in all, it was a wonderful day. We hope yours was too.
(Post script: Yes, these pictures were taken after Christmas but we were unable to capture the kiddos in their Christmas get-ups when they actually wore them out of the house, so we had a special posing party. And, for the record - the holding hands? NOT the parents' idea. The boys came up with that all on their own. How cute is that??)
2 comments:
lOVE THOSE FAMILY PHOTOS...Grandma needs copies to show off!!! So cute that Noah could help pass out the gifts...He's so big! Benjamin has the right idea...put your gift right to work. Enjoying all your dedication to the site, Stephanie. Great job!!
My parents left the big gifts out in the garage! :-) Then after everything else was opened, they bring in them in.
NICE HAIR! :-) You are brave and it turned out adorable! I so wish I was brave enough to go for it.
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