Michael and I decided it would probably be best if we spent Christmas Eve night at our house--Gabriel is still having tons of trouble sleeping, Benjamin is not yet sleeping through the night...we figured it would be easiest on everybody.
So Christmas morning, we got up and spent it together, just the five of us!
The boys always wake up at around 6.30, which is NOT the time Michael would like to be waking on his day off, little less to open presents. In Michael's family, Christmas morning is fairly relaxed--they wake up naturally and let everyone else do the same, take turns opening presents one at a time...in my family, generally we are all rousing about 5 or so and after the adults get their coffee, the kids are woken and in an atmosphere of sheer chaos, we all simultaneously tear into our presents no later than 6.30 (having pushed it back in consideration of Michael). Wrapping paper is flying everywhere, people are hollering across the room thanking one another and telling everyone what they got...with about 30 people all in one living room, it gets a little rowdy :)
I tell you all of this because Michael and I did not have the foresight to discuss how we would best like to handle gifts that morning. I guess we both had it in our heads to do it the way we had always done it with our respective families, but those methods are fairly incompatible.
We ended up heading straight for the tree when everyone was awake and letting them see their Santa gifts right away--Emerald got an 18 inch pose-able doll named Addison, and the boys got an Elephant game that shoots colored balls in the air for them to chase or sending it into a loop for continuous play. Then we let them open their presents--Emerald got scented Jolly Rancher nail polish from Gabriel that makes your nails candy colored; Benjamin got her a Little Mermaid Ariel barbie for her growing collection of Disney Princess barbies; Michael and I got her a dessert tea set in pale pink with little pastries and pies. Gabriel got two Veggie Tales DVDs from Benjamin, a noisy red fire truck from Emerald, and a Thomas the Tank Engine train set from Mommy and Daddy. Benjamin got an assortment of rattles that attach to his arms and legs, pacifiers, and little toys.
Stockings: Emerald got a lip gloss watch, bubbles, a ladybug necklace, a mosaic craft, candy canes, and magnetic alphabet for the fridge. Gabriel got magnetic numbers for the fridge, bubbles, pacifiers, and candy canes.
After we opened all our gifts, the kids set up to play with them while Daddy made us a big breakfast and I cleaned up the house and tossed out all the wrapping paper and trash. We ended up having a quiet day, just enjoying one another's company and playing with all the neat new things we got.
Second Christmas:
After a day of being lazy and hanging out, we headed back over to Glo and Pawpaw's for Christmas with everyone, including Steve and Melisa and Sydney and Macy, plus Grannymom and Daddad and Patrick.
Rhonda made enchiladas which were really good. Emerald was antsy to open presents--she is getting a little spoiled, that one.
Michael got two new Fedoras, which just about made his year, and a nice new pen. He also got a pipe mug and a picture of him and his great-grandfather Pappy who passed away the year before last. Michael had been close to him and misses him a great deal. I got a gorgeous new bright blue coat that I have not stopped wearing since.
Gabriel and Emerald both got beautiful new rocking chairs; Gabe also got pretzels, which kept him occupied while everyone else were opening their gifts. Emerald got a McDonald's play set which she is currently obsessed with--she kept getting everyone to order, though she always wants you to get what she would get (a chicken nuggets happy meal, chocolate milk, extra cheeseburger, cup of ranch). Benjamin got a car that you shake a rattle at to make it move, which he is going to be really excited about when I can get Gabe to leave it alone.
Another great Christmas--I like hanging out with Sydney and Macy, even if I am a total dork and they know it. Michael got to spend some time playing video games with his brother, and the kids had a great time.
-Andie-
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