Our Five Ring Circus: Christmas 2011

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Christmas 2011

Christmas Day was just as wonderful as Christmas Eve! I felt so blessed all day!

After the encounter with Santa, a few presents appeared under the tree!

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Our morning began shortly after 9 AM. We heard Lexie wake up in her room, and begin moaning and whining. After a few minutes, the house went silent, and then I heard little feet running down the hall. She dove onto the bed, eyes wide with astonishment, shrieking, "Presents!!! There are presents UNDER THE TREE! PRESENTS!"

She was crazed! She dove onto me, yelling, "Wake up! There! Are! Presents!" She leaped off the bed, and ran into Dylan's room shouting the same thing!

Best Christmas morning wake-up EVER!

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Dylan and Lexie were super excited, and Lily was super smiley, so we got right down to business, opening Santa gifts!

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After the piles of Santa gifts were opened, it was time to open the Santa bag. Every year, Santa leaves a special present for each kid (typically what they asked for) in a cloth Santa bag. This year, Lexie got a Moxie Girl, Dylan got a Star Wars:Force Unleashed 2 DS game, and Lily got Sophie the Giraffe.

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Finally, the kids emptied out their stockings.

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Dylan and Lexie were extra good this year, and received everything they had asked for, and more!

One of the biggest things I love about my kids are their big hearts. They were SO excited to exchange gifts with each other and give Grant and I our presents! Dylan bought for all of us at his school's Santa workshop and made a gift for Grant and I at school. Lexie made a gift for me at school, and bought a small gift for Grant, Dylan, and Lily. Lily bought for Dylan and Lexie. I think this gift exchange was the most memorable, and all the gifts were loved!

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After the gifts were exchanged, we set each kid up with one gift, and then Grant and I exchanged gifts. I'm a lucky lady!

We opened presents for over an hour, and then set to work opening boxes while waiting for my dad to arrive for Christmas breakfast (my sweet mom usually joins us, but she offered to work so a single mom could be with her 6 year old on Christmas morning).

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Papa entertained the kids while Grant and I cooked a feast of eggs, bacon, and toast.

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Our sweet baby girl was so worn out from the excitement of her first Christmas morning!

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After breakfast, we headed over to Grant's parent's house to open presents with them!

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And once again, Lily was worn out!

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We headed back home to exchange gifts with my parents!

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The kids were thrilled with their special gift from Nina and Papa!

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We opened gifts for a grand total of 5 hours! It was just a bit insane, but there's nothing better than giving presents to the ones we love so much!

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We had an early dinner with my parents, my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. It was quieter than our normal chaotic dinners, but everybody was still busy with Christmas. To be honest, the quiet was nice!

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By the time dinner was over, my kids were getting tired, so we went home and had a quick, hour-long, family nap. That was a first for us, but everybody ended up refreshed and happy for our last stop of the night!

We spent the remainder of Christmas evening with Grant's family at his Nannie's house.

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I think Lily had a wonderful first Christmas! She was definitely my favorite gift of the year!

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As Christmas neared an end, I counted my blessings. It was an incredible Christmas spent with the ones I love most! I was surrounded by love and happiness, and that's what Christmas is all about!

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16 comments:

  1. Looks like Christmas was crazy and fun all in one! And everyone stayed pretty happy! Yay! Love all their outfits and smiles.

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  2. Wonderful pictures!! Everyone looks so happy!!

    Love your kids Christmas jammies and adorable outfits!

    That's really sweet that your mom offered to work so her co-worker could be with her daughter.

    I'm glad you all had a great Christmas!

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  3. GREAT pictures! Glad you had a nice Christmas

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  4. What a nice Christmas! I love D's jammies! =)

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  5. I love the picture of Lily in the stocking! Too precious! I'm glad you all a great Christmas!

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  6. Oh my goodness!! You have the most adorable family ever and I love the way you dress them- they all look so cute all the time. Looks like a fabulous Christmas!!

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  7. They are all so cute! Looks like they had a wonderful visit from Santa. I love their Christmas PJ's!

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  8. Such a happy Christmas indeed! Filled with lots of love and joy! :) Great photos sissy!

    hugs,
    Marice

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  9. Looks like a wonderful Christmas. Happy Birthday Jesus!

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  10. Lily was in Baby Mum Mum heaven! What was that scary purple thing Lexie was holding? I am scared to know what was in Dylan's green test tube. Your pictures are sooo beautiful, looks like everyone had a great day!

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  11. oh my good I love read your blog, and about your beautiful kids!!!

    Is looks like they have the best Christmas ever!!! They are Lucky kids!!

    Merry Christmas!!

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  12. Your pictures have disappeared! So sad. :( Though I'm glad you had an amazing Christmas! I think my kids had EVERYTHING open in about five minutes this year. Next year we'll have to slow them down. :)

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  13. What a day, hey :)?!

    The kids looked like they had a bunch of fun. My daughter got extremely spoiled this year, I think we went a little overboard but not as much as the grandparents ;). Lol! I love spending Christmas with my girl -- it gives a whole new meaning to enjoying Christmas!

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  14. such a gorgeous family

    Im startin the pj tradition next year with B

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  15. Lexie seems like such a little hoot! LOVE the Lily pic cuddled in the stocking! CUTE :)

    the matching pj's are super cute too!

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