Now I'm ready for the Christmas Review!

Okay, so it might be a little strange to go back to Christmas, but I always intended to do a post about Christmas 2008 and wasn't in the mood immediately following the holiday.

So we were lucky and got to have 2 Christmas celebrations (and actually, we still have one more to go - but that won't be until Valentine's Day!). Our first celebration was actually on Christmas and at our house.

The girls managed to stay in bed until a semi-reasonable hour (6:30) and then came in to get us. Well, they were pretty excited to see all of their gifts. We let them look through their stockings and start on some candy.
While the girls were sampling candy from their stockings, JM got a nice new bath toy. Gracie had been very concerned that Santa might bring candy for JM - good thing Santa had on his thinking cap!

Then they really wanted to start opening gifts, but we reminded them that we were going to go to church first. So, they took it upon themselves to start sorting all the gifts into piles.

Now, since Gracie is just starting to "read" letters and Clara really doesn't yet, the piles were quite interesting! But it kept them occupied until it was time to get some breakfast and get dressed and head to church. They were looking forward to the backpack homily (kid's homily) at church, so that was an added incentive to get them out the door.


We were able to dive into presents when we got home. I can't even remember in what order things were opened - we tried to have them go one at a time so we could actually see what they were opening. Clara's main goal this year was just to keep opening present after present. Sometimes we could get her to stop for a photo!


I think Gracie actually wanted to look at what she was getting.



Every now & then Mike & I got to open a present, too.





We were lucky & John Michael took a nap during this main part of the present opening. Otherwise I imagine he would have been "helping" with the opening and having a special little breakfast of gift wrap and bows. Plus, I can't imagine trying to keep track of him as well as what the girls were doing and what they were opening and who it was from! It made me a little crazy (Mike would say that was an understatement)!

We took a break for some lunch when JM woke up & then we let him in on the whole unwrapping thing. He didn't really think much of it - except for the ribbons - good for chewing on! But he got lots of fun presents, too.


Then we went outside to enjoy the beautiful Christmas day weather (and let the girls try out their new Scream Machines ... again)




Later Mimi & Pap came over & the girls really enjoyed getting to see them. Gracie showed Pap everything she had opened
, while Clara told (and showed) Mimi all about her new video game.


JM even managed to get some time with Mimi after we all had something to eat.

It was a very Merry Christmas!

I was grateful we all got to be together and that the girls (and John Michael) had such a good time. At the end of the day, we were all pretty worn out and bedtime couldn't come soon enough!