Glory Hallelujah Christmas morning arrived!
The kids actually didn't get up at 0 dark thirty either!
Here they were before we let them come upstairs.
I think someone had sneaked a peek- but that's how it's supposed to be eh!?
Conli's face is priceless in each and every picture.
Her reactions are the greatest.
Seeing how much of their treats Santa ate-
And then, to the presents!
My biggest present- DADDY SHAVED!
How cute is this- he set his alarm and got up at 3 in the MORNING to shave just for a surprise.
If that's not love, I don't know what is.
He's the greatest!
Ear muffs!!!
They've begged for these for years!
Someone was happy!
Dad got a new shaver- just what he wanted.
And he got me a Blendtec-
Funny story about this:
About a week or two before Christmas, I noticed a box under the tree.
I asked Brent what it was and he just said it was something for me.
I walked back thru the living room and for some reason, blender just popped in to my head.
So, I walked in our room and said, "I know what the present is." And he got this worried look on his face and said "What?" And when I said "a blender" you should've seen his face!
He was soooo mad! He said- "bullsh**!!! Did Conli tell you????"
And I said- "No, you just did though!"
It was HILARIOUS!
This guy hates keeping secrets. If he buys something for someone and it's 2 weeks or 2 months before their birthday, they will be getting their present early.
He was actually going to not tell me this one and then I ruined it.
Oh well- still a pretty awesome present!
Presents from Santa:
Max=bike
Conli=karaoke machine
Sawyer=art easel
After we were done at our house, we traveled over the river and thru the woods to Manas.
Ok, not really, just down the freeway and up the hill, but still:
Mana's Cafe was open for business.
We always eat breakfast as a family at Mana's but this year we decided to switch it up and serve the children in their own lil restaurant. It was cute.
J made a darling little menu for them to choose from:
and was server extraordinaire!
Dad was Chef
and other servers/cooks
They each got a kids menu to keep them entertained until the food was prepared.
Maybe Mara got a little excited to dig in! :)
After breakfast, we got to sift thru presents and take turns opening! The highlight for the kids.
She was so excited, and timid- it was funny.
Max had a Packers filled day. He loved every second. Hoodies/snuggies/clothes....
Of course, they always get to hide in the wrappings and play around in them like snow falling.
It was a GREAT day. After hanging out at Mana's for a while, we went home to manage the mess. And instead of back to her house for dinner like we have in the past, Brent and I fed the kids whatever they could find and took ourselves to China Isle. It was good- and a new tradition.
We were also blessed enough to help 2 family's in our ward, and a child on the Giving Tree at the gym. I am sooooo grateful to be able to pay it forward for the year/s we have received help. It was the most magical year when things just kept showing up on our door and I'll NEVER forget it. NEVER. I hope the people we were able to help received what they needed and that it was a great holiday for them. Christmas is magic. It always is. I love the feelings that start rumbling around the world the minute the songs start and the lights go up. I wish we could always be so kind and loving. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful couple of months there and I'm grateful we have a Savior who was born, and who lived an exemplar life that we can strive to be like. He is the reason for the season- as cheesy as it is- and I love Him.
