Christmas Day

What.a.day! We had church on Christmas morning at 10:00 am so I was expecting us to be rushed around but we weren't at all. It was a fabulous morning. With a little planning ahead it was perfect. Cameron woke up first and we brought him in our room to wait for Cooper. We still set his alarm and most days he wakes up before it goes off so right at 7:20 he comes bounding in our room talking a mile a minute. We have a split floor plan so he had to walk through the living room, he comes in talking about how Santa ate his cookies but left him one and there is on present already opened, it was a big kitchen. He was on cloud nine. We all walked into the living room to check it out. Santa had left the kitchen out along with some presents wrapped in blue. The boys had their stockings and new bean bags, Cooper had green Mickey Mouse wrapping paper and Cameron had blue and red Winnie the Pooh.

Steve and I had some things in the back.

Cameron wasted no time heading for the kitchen. Santa said it was for the both of them but I think he knew Cameron would love it.

Before we opened any gifts we had to open the small birthday bag. We started a new tradition by not putting Baby Jesus in the nativity's that are in Cooper and Cameron's room. We set out a birthday bag with Baby Jesus in it and Cooper got to place them in the nativity.

Once Baby Jesus was in place it was time to dig into our stockings. We had to slow Cooper down a bit, he was into every one's. Cameron could care less, I think he was still at the kitchen. I think I had to open his. He got a car and 2 lift a flap board books.

Cooper got a new Berenstain Bears book, a new Bible devotional, and sight word flash cards.

Steve got a Chicago Bears ornament and a cup that he was super excited about. I got some lottery tickets that I won $3, 3 diet cokes for me, and a Kohl's gift card.

Next up were gifts from Santa. Cameron got a plush rocking horse, well it's actually a bull. Nice view of Steve, huh? Funny story about the rocking horse. The one I had picked out was on sale Thanksgiving night at Toys R Us. Scott got confused and thought I wanted the riding spring rocking horse. That one was a door buster so when they were handing out tickets Scott got all excited that he had made it in time. Turns out it wasn't even the right one so that ticket was a waste, then he picked up the wrong plush one. After all that work I didn't even bother to take it back even thought it was more than I would have like to pay for it. Cameron loves it so that's all that matters.

My pictures are a little out of order. I got Steve a new watch so he was excited to show Cooper.

This should have come first, it's a little blurry but it's what Cooper has been asking Santa for, walkie talkies. He also got a remote control car and Berenstain Bears DVD's. Santa thought when he ordered the videos from Amazon that they were the same ones from Sprout, they are much older. Old school Berenstain Bears.

About a year ago I found this cute Kate Spade iPhone case, it cost about $45 so there was no way I would buy it. Steve found a knock off, at least I think it is because it cost a lot less, but I don't care... it's super cute.

Cooper was excited about his new microphone stand. We got lots of new stuff to add to our music room. That is what we call our office now.

I have no idea what he is doing here, I think looking at his lift the flap book.

It took no time at all to go through all the presents. Two more big highlights were the Vtech digital camera we got Cooper and the trolley set of pretend cleaning supplies we got Cameron. Hopefully we will leave the real kitchen broom alone and stop banging people in the head with it.

Breakfast needed to be quick and easy so we had some Christmas Tree shaped donuts from Jay C.

I didn't think we would have enough time to open the gifts and play with them but we ended up with plenty of time. The microphone stand was a huge hit with both boys.

Once it was time to start getting ready we settled them down by watching old school Berenstain Bears videos. Cooper loves his new bean bag, Cameron could really care less.

After an awesome church service we headed to my in-laws for lunch and gifts. Believe it or not there were less gifts this year than years past. All this includes his parents gifts to us, Scott, and the boys. Our gifts to his parents and Scott. And Scott's gifts to us, the boys, and his parents.

We brought clothes to change into after church, I don't want you to think we went to church in our pj's.

Steve's parents were cleaning up so I got a little camera happy while waiting to start the gifts.

Cooper was doing this best to be patient so I said we would play a game. Whoever could sit on the couch and be the quietest would get the "first gift of Christmas". You know like the first gift of Christmas on the Polar Express. He laid down on Scott's legs and was so good and calm so he got the first gift.

I didn't get one single picture of us opening gifts. Between keeping up with both kids and trying to keep all the gifts organized I just couldn't do it. The boys got tons of clothes, a pillow pet each, fun new toys. Cameron got a xylophone table and Cooper got a miniature piano for the music room.

Steve and I racked up too. We got new camping chair for the fire pit, we got red and the boys got IU ones. Scott got us new dishes. We got 4 place settings, I picked out Fiesta Ware in chocolate so I can easily add or replace dishes. Now I just need to get more plates and bowls. Steve got a gift card to Lowe's and I got one to Hobby Lobby. My next project is getting a table for our foyer. Steve's parents always give in abundance to us each year and we are so very thankful. We have learned our lesson in past years and took two cars this year. We needed it.

Cameron didn't get a morning nap, this was a sure fire sign he had a good time.Steve got home shortly after I did and we all took a nap. I was napping when my phone rang, it was my mom telling me my dad was in my driveway. I don't hear from him for 6 months and he shows on Christmas Day without calling. It's not that I don't appreciate it, cause I do and he did get some nice gifts for the boys, it would have just been nice to get a phone call first. He wanted me to wake up the kids when he got there. Sorry, no can do, they had been going non-stop for 24 hours and they needed their rest. He stuck around until they woke up. It's a bit of a personal conflict for me. Cameron has no clue who he is. He wasn't around the first year of Cooper's life until him and my mom tried to get back together when Cooper was 1. Then a year and a half later my mom came home from work and he was gone without an explanation. Cooper knows who he is and seemed excited to see him but at the same time I don't really want him to have a relationship with him when I know he is going to disappear again for months at a time. I'm used to it, I just don't want my kids to have to go through it. But, it is Christmas and he is family.

We spent the remainder of the evening opening boxes and organizing. We are going to have one massive yard sale in the Spring. We had no choice but to go through and eliminate stuff. A few gifts we put back cause they are more outdoor items. It will seem like toys all over again. We are still only about 90% back to normal. Steve went back to work today and I met my mom at Target this morning. I got some good deals on stuff to decorate the outside of our house next year. I am excited! It will the be first time we have ever really done anything. I can't wait!

I try not to rank how good a Christmas is, but I do believe this has been one of the best so far. Maybe it's the age of our kids and how Cooper is really getting into it. I can't imagine next year. I can remember Cooper having fun with it when he was two but at the same time not really understanding. Next year Cameron will learn from Cooper. I'm giddy just thinking about it. It's way better being a parent on Christmas. Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

"For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselore,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6