Merry Christmas!

No early-risers here - the kiddos got up about 8:00. Poor things had to spend some extra time hanging out at the top of the stairs, though, while I set up the computer for Grandpa and Grandma to watch Christmas from Michigan. They were surprisingly very patient.Abs is checking in with Grandpa and Grandma.They all decided to very delicately go through their stockings, seemingly oblivious to the larger packages on the floor.Oh, boy! Santa got Abby's wish just right! She asked for "candy. lots it. in my pumpkin."And, Benjamin got his tuba! (Thanks to the 'Elf on the Shelf' he was able to put in a late minute change up to get a gold one instead of blue.)Noah requested Bakugans. That Santa is so good.Abby took the rest of the morning off to start emptying her pumpkin.Noah got lots of coloring books. This is a 3-D Color Explosion. Pretty cool, really.Different seat - same activity. She's pretty good at getting in to the Reese's now, too. It only took a couple mouthfuls of foil to figure that out.The boys colored me some pictures. And there are Grandpa and Grandma waiting for some more action. Adding to our ever-growing instrument collection, Noah got some electric drumsticks.Benj got a Magic Fiddle. Which, I should point out, he knew right how to play without any instruction.A clarinet.And a trumpet - just like daddy'sPurple cowboy boots. Nice...Oh, and look! Daddy got Abby to open another present - only after shoving her cheeks full of candy, though, you'll notice. (Would you be surprised to find out she ate no other meals on Christmas?)And later that same day... After our morning at home, we went to the grandparents' house for the remainder of the day. Aunt Cynthia and her family were there and the kids had fun mingling with their cousins. (Although, we should mention that we are considering implementing a "Tech-Free" zone for future family holidays so some communication inside the house actually occurs...) And when we got home, the boy who had dreamed of a tuba for months, couldn't let it out of his sight for a minute.

The perfect end to a perfect day. Hope you had a magical Christmas as well.