Christmas 2010 {Part 3}

Christmas morning!  Santa was good to us this year, but isn't he always?  Magnolia had been asking for a grocery scanner since playing with Avree and Alivia's in early October and Santa came through!  He also dropped off the grocery stand and a little bit of play food as well.  He brings 1 big gift for everyone to share rather than each child their own little something.  Each stocking contains some candy that the girls are under no obligation to share, however.

 After poking around at the Santa gifts for awhile, Magnolia was eager to open the presents under the tree.  Each of them recieved 2 books...

 An outfit...

 And a toy.  A Mr. Potato Head for Boothe.

 And Mega Bloks for Magnolia.

Dan and I really didn't exchange gifts with each other.  We had planned on getting a new couch so that was our Christmas present and I couldn't be more excited!  We found one we liked at New Years Day and it should be arriving within 8 weeks.  Never had I picked out a couch before and although figuring out the design options was pretty easy, the upholstery choices are overwhelming.  We decided on something and then changed our mind, changed our minds again and once more before placing the order.  And even today I'm second guessing our choice! Aaaahhhh!!  It's just such a large piece of furniture and SO expensive.  I'm so scared that I'll regret our decision once it is delivered.  Since I never want to buy another couch and this one comes with a lifetime warrenty, I'm planning on getting my money's worth and taking advantage of the lifetime guarantee!  So I'd better LOVE it!!!

Christmas 2010 {Part 2}

After lunch with the Hamachers, we headed home for naps and then got dressed for the Christmas Eve service at church.  I love evening candle-light services and this year was special since Magnolia was an angle in the Nativity scene.

Here are the girls dressed and ready for church enjoying the last hours with their pacis (more on that later).

 It's hard to teach kids, especially little ones, how Christmas, Jesus, decorated trees and lights and Santa Claus are all related.  With almost everyone celebrating Christmas in one way or another regardless of their beliefs, I even feel confused sometimes.  The season has become so mainstream that Jesus seems to be lost in the hustle and bustle.  Santa visits our house, but we don't over accentuate him...except this year when we made Santa do the dirty work for us (more on that later).  It's hard to make a 3 year old think of Jesus during Christmastime when Santa is EVERYWHERE.  I read Charlie Brown's Christmas to Magnolia in December and towards the end of the book, Linus recites the true meaning of Christmas.  I was very animated when reading that part of the book trying to make sure Magnolia could hear the importance.  I think she did.  But still after the book was over, she looked at me and said, "But Santa didn't even visit their house?!?!"  She was confused about why this was the end of this Christmas book when Santa hadn't even made his appearance.  I guess I now have a year to think of better ways to incorporate the Christmas story into Christmas.

 Our angel...

 So we got home from church and opened our new pair of pajamas and played with some of our new games and toys from the day.

 And then we got ready for Santa.  We put some cookies out for him.  This year Santa actually played an important role in our Christmas....

 He took BOTH the girls' pacis.  Of course to give to babies who don't have any.  They both placed their own pacis on the plate and were fine with letting Santa take them since he was bringing gifts for the morning.  I got this idea from my cousin, Julie.  After having tried to stop Magnolia from using a paci TWICE before and ended up giving it back to her, I thought it made sense to have someone else be the bad guy.  Because if Santa took them away, they obviously were no longer in the house!  So there was no way to talk me into giving them back.

So far, we have stuck it out, but it hasn't been easy.  Having a 3rd party actually take them has really made a big difference, though, compared to the previous times.  It's been almost 2 weeks and sleep is still lacking.  Santa not only took 2 pacis, he took Mom's sleep and Dad's patience too.  If he accidentally left those items at your house during his stop, please return them as soon as possible.

Christmas 2010 {Part 1}

I haven't sat down to blog in awhile.  I just decided to take a short break during Christmas and New Years.  I had planned to start 2011 out right and begin blogging again on Monday the 3rd, but it still feels like holiday time to us since our activities don't start again until next week.  So laziness has been running rampant around here.  Except for Dan who has been at the office until the early hours of the morning this whole week.  Tonight he is actually home but kicking me off the computer soon so he can work some more.  This is pretty unusual for him to work THIS much, but we are thankful for the work and income.

So our Christmas celebrations for the last couple years has been divided into 5 parts.  Gifts and lunch with the Hamacher side on Christmas Eve morning, 5pm Christmas Eve church service, Christmas morning at home, gifts and dinner with the Cory side on Christmas evening and a Sunday (sometime in December) with my mom's side of the family.

These pictures are from my parent's house on Christmas Eve morning.

 Magnolia lining up all her candy from her stocking.

 Boothe was into unwrapping gifts this year.

 Hoola Hoops.  I think everyone in the family tried them.  I should have taken pictures of the adults trying them out.  The pictures would have been much more amusing.

 Go Fish game.  Fun for all ages!

 Boothe instructing Bop on how to rewire the entertainment center.

 Hamacher/Ramsey/Cory/Olson family picture 2010.

I'll be back tomorrow with some pictures from phase 2 of our Christmas.