...four cute kiddos sitting under the Christmas tree in matching pajamas.
...the excitement of Santa Clause. Santa always brings a group gift, and preferably something the kids have never before seen in a store or magazine. In other words, something only Santa can bring. This year his wooden marble works and domino rally (as well as other small toys and treats) didn't disappoint. (It did take him all night to set up in the living room though!)
...that moment of discovery. The excitement of our children as they ascend the stairs and prepare to gaze upon their Christmas gifts is what makes all of the work and expense of Christmas worth while.
...a two year old who only wanted Santa to bring her "a soft Tiana Blankie."
...the baby who is only interested in the "tweets!" Isn't it wonderful when your whole arm fits inside of your stocking! Dig deep my boy, dig deep!
...chaos and disaster. And so much fun!
...tearing off the wrapping paper, again and again and again!
...earning money for weeks to buy that gift that your brother or sister desperately wants. For Spencer, that gift was his very own toy bow and arrow. He wanted one so badly, and Madison worked so hard to earn the money needed to buy the one he wanted. He simply beamed when he opened it. Almost as much as he beamed when Maddi read off her "Top Three Reasons Why She Loves Spencer" list. (this is a new addition to our Christmas celebration. Before giving their gift to the person whose name they drew they read off three things they really like about that person. They wrote these things down with mom or dad when they wrapped the present and put it in a little card on top. Only after reading their card can they present their person with their gift.) Maddi's list read:
To Spencer, From Maddi
1. You are always kind and loving
2. You are fun to play with and play good with my friends
3. When I think of you I feel so happy you're my
brother that I cry
(Truly her eyes did mist up when she
picked the last item on her list.)
For Emma the present was a new dress. Spencer also worked hard to earn money for this dress, and was so pleased to buy his baby sister something that would make her so beautiful. His note to Emma read:
To Emma, From Spencer
1. She's very beautiful, like a princess
2. She's nice to play with
3. She makes me laugh when we play
For Maddi, the present her baby sister got her was also a dress. Not just any dress though. This dress was extra special because it looked just like the dress Hermoine Granger wore to the Yule Ball in Harry Potter. She happened to see the dress online as I was looking through Black Friday e-mails and decided that she absolutely had to have it. The dress was ridiculously expensive though, and seemed out of the question to get. Lucky for Emma, who also tried so hard to do jobs to earn money, the dress went on sale and we managed to find one in Maddi's size. Thank heaven too, since when we visited Santa, Maddi told him: "What I really want more than anything else is this dress. I saw it online, and my mom and dad said it's just too expensive." I don't think Emma fully appreciated how much Madison adored her gift, but she was pleased nonetheless. Her card to Maddi read:
To Maddi, From Emma
1. I love to play American Dolls with Maddi
2. "Her" is beautiful and kind like a princess
3. I love her, she is my best friend
Baby Mase wasn't part of the gift exchange, but we all still wrote him a card. It said:
To Mason, From Everyone
1. He cuddles when he is tired (Mom)
2. He loves to give big kisses and bear hugs (Dad)
3. He lets me pick him up (Maddi)
4. He plays with cars and tools with me (Spencer)
5. I love him (Emma)
...gifts from mommy and daddy. They always seem to know just what to get.
...opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa on the web cam. The presents from their Grandmas and Grandpas were the very last Christmas presents to be opened, and they didn't make their debut until Christmas evening. That's because there was no time earlier in the day. We got through stockings, Santa's gifts, and the kids gift exchange just in time to pack up on the snowmobile and head over to the Gillete's for Christmas brunch. Then by the time we got back, the kids were too wiped out to open any more gifts. They all took naps and had to be woken up to open mom and dad's gifts before heading over to the Anderson's for Christmas dinner. When we finally arrived back from dinner, it was finally time to open grandparents gifts. First they opened great gifts from Grandma and Grandpa McArthur.
Then they opened Grandma and Grandpa Hoskins' big surprise--Wicked Tickets!
..such a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas Everyone! And Happy New Year as well!
