Merry Christmas!

I think this picture says it all.

Let's just say it was fun watching our kids this Christmas.

We spent Christmas Eve with the Snell's at my sister's house.  We had a yummy dinner, opened presents, played with toys and acted out the nativity.

All of the kids were too excited to eat, that is, except for Cameron.  He sat at the kid table all by himself and ate, ate, ate.

We finally got them all to sit down at once to open presents.

(Gavin, Cailyn, Hallie, Bryant, Cameron)

Uncle Shay had fun playing with the kids' toys.

Here's Grandpa Gene opening his gift from Grandma Julie.  She took a picture of herself with a snowman she had made on his lawn.  He is kind of "grinchy" about people stepping in the snow on his lawn, so she thought it would be so funny to make a snowman and put tracks all over his lawn for Christmas.  I think his face tells all about how he felt about that.

We acted out the nativity again this year.  Cailyn and Hallie both wanted to be angels.  Gavin wanted to be one of the wisemen.  Bryant didn't want to be anything until we told him he wouldn't get any more treats if he didn't help, and then he decided to be a shepherd.  Cameron played the part of Joseph.  Easton was baby Jesus, although I don't think he liked the manger.  And, Shay was the donkey.

It was all going well until they all started fighting over who was going to ride the donkey and...

...the shepherd started shooting the new marshmallow gun that Uncle Shay and Grandpa Gene made for him at the donkey, and then at Mary and baby Jesus.  So, Gavin, who had decided to switch from wiseman to Joseph, fought off the attack of marshmallows with his laser gun.

Needless to say, Anisha, who was narrating, rushed through to the ending and we all had a really good laugh.

***

I love Christmas-- everything about it.  I especially love Christmas morning.  I love reading the Christmas story with our children before presents and knowing that they are starting to understand the really meaning of Christmas.  I used to love it because of the fun and anticipation it had for me, but now, I love it because of this.

The excited screams and the looks on their faces are PRICELESS.

Cameron even got into it this year.  He was pretty good at ripping of the paper as fast as he could to see what was inside. 

The kids helped me open my gifts.  They loved shopping for us and couldn't wait to see if we liked their gifts.  It was so much fun.

I loved Mike's enthusiasm with the kids.  I wish I could get that kind of reaction when I buy him a new sweater.

 This is what time it was when we were finished.

***

After we finished opening presents Christmas morning, we headed to the Jackson's for brunch and more unwrapping.

 I had to capture this VERY RARE moment.  I have NEVER seen all five of these kids sitting quietly and contently at once.  NEVER.

Of course, Cameron and Tanner weren't sitting with them.  They were having too much fun with their toys.

I don't even want to know how many hours my kids sat in front of the TV and played the Wii that day.

Because after all of that, they sat in front of the TV again and watched movies!

Isn't Christmas great?!