Chistmas!

Christmas Eve

Cousins

The kids opened their traditional Christmas Eve present (new pjs and a book) and we headed to Nana's house for a party with aunts, uncles and cousins.  The kids were spoiled by my 2 Aunts as usual, including some cold, hard cash.  Then we headed to church for a fun evening with good friends.  And finally home to put on pjs and get everything ready for a special visit from Santa!  Leah was very excited to get cookies and chocolate milk (her choice) out for Santa.  Our kids were so optimistic they'd been extra good this year we moved furniture to make room under the tree.

Every year I like to take a picture of the kids under the tree on Christmas Eve in their new pjs

I snuck downstairs after I heard some jingle bells on the roof and sure enough Santa had already filled the stockings and been under our tree...I must have just missed him!

Christmas Day

After waking up the last sleeping person (me!) we all headed downstairs together to check out our very full stockings. 

In our house Santa brings quite a few needed items like socks, toothbrushes and winter hats and gloves along with all the fun stuff

These are my favourite pictures from Christmas Day.  Leah had pulled an ornament out of her stocking and wanted to hang it on the tree.  This was her first time seeing the tree with all the gifts from Santa.  I watched her walk into the room (which in her defence was still quite dark), push past all the gifts (she literally had to move things out of the way to get to the tree) and hang her ornament.  Then as she backed away from the tree she finally seemed to notice all the gifts.  She was in quiet awe as she scanned all the toys then loudly asked me to turn the lights on.  Kyle and Jillian joined in and let the squeals of joy begin as Kyle found his Skylander Wii game and Jillian saw the big barbie house filled with furniture and barbies!

After a yummy breakfast it was time for church to celebrate what this day is really all about.  We loved seeing everyone in our church family, the kids have so many friends there and it was lovely to share a nice morning service together.

Then it was home to open presents from each other. Leah was over the moon...more presents!? And since we open youngest to oldest she even got to go first. Everything was a big hit.

A leapster explorer for my littlest one who has been jealous of Kyle and Jillian's DS's

A girl after my own heart...excited about new boots!!

My little princess kissing her frog prince

Star Wars DVDs for Jeff from Kyle

a pokemon gift box for Jillian from Kyle...pokemon cards, book & stuffed Piplup

Opening presents at Nana's house with Aunt Chris & Uncle Sam

French pokemon cards from France...cool!

Alicia is the centre of attention

End of the day, Kyle is settled in reading his new Harry Potter book from Nana after a yummy dinner (turkey and all the fixings) and dessert (Christmas pudding and custard, my favourite).

It was a wonderful Christmas, full of blessings, family, friends and fun.  I hope all of our friends and family also enjoyed a fun filled Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

* this was posted from my new laptop...Santa was very good to me as well!