Christmas Day in the Morning

When we discovered that Christmas day was going to fall on Sunday this year, I had all sorts of mixed emotions about it.  In a way, it's nice to be at church on Christmas, and enjoy the music and messages on the actual day.  But in another way, it's hard to interrupt the Christmas routine and get all dressed up and go somewhere in the middle of the celebrations, especially since we're totally the kind of family that usually stays in our sweats all day long on Christmas. 

  For some random reason, the kids did not wake up until after Glen and I had showered and we had turned on the light in their room (about 7:00am).   Then they eagerly ran to their stockings and to check out the tree.  There was much hooping, hollering, and shaking the gifts, but because our ward starts at 9:00am, their time was limited and we went quickly to bathing, eating a quick breakfast,  and getting ready for church.  It took a little more nudging than usual to get them out the door, but they did surprisingly well keeping on task.   After all was said and done though, I actually ended up liking the way going to church broke up the day.

Here we are, all ready for church...

The music and talks were excellent, albeit a tad on the long side, and I liked that we got to see many of our friends on Christmas day.   As I stood greeting families at the door of the chapel while I handed out the programs, I loved that several children bubbled over in excitement to me as they eagerly told me of the Christmas festivities they'd enjoyed before church.  I love conversations with little people! 

As soon as we got home, it was a race to get on our pajamas while Cami threw together a slightly more elaborate breakfast.  We took advantage of having my sister, AnnaLisa, in the house and did a little photo shoot while it was cooking.  Thanks, AnnaLisa, for the awesomest Christmas morning photo ever.  :)

After gobbling down some Orange Breakfast Bread and the ensuing clean-up, the kids were getting anxious to start some present opening.  Ellie spent the time making sure our new Christmas goose (hand-sewn by Sister Smith) was comfy cozy in the bed she'd made for it. 

Then, finally, it was onto the part everyone was waiting for...PRESENTS!  

  Glen is always the gift distributor and he picks a rotation (usually oldest to youngest) for opening whatever gift he chooses for them. 

The kids appropriately oohed and ahed over their gifts. 

Sometimes a little overdramatically (especially considering it was a box of crayons that she'd just opened)...

Emma had been hard to shop for, but it definitely seemed like she was as happy as a clam about the everything...

Apparently Cami loved her gifts as well...

Spencer was a little less demonstrative than his sisters, but he also seemed to enjoy the moment...

Adam is a kid who likes to give all of his gifts a try before moving onto the next one.  He had three Bionicle kits put together before the present opening was even finished and this Bop It toy has proved to be a fun distraction for kids and adults alike over the last two days. 

After opening these boots, Ellie was way too excited to keep her pajamas on.  She changed clothes no fewer than 4 times after this picture was taken.  Each outfit, of course, sported these same new boots.

We were thrilled that AnnaLisa was able to join us for the day, although she looked a bit out of place wearing her church clothes all day...

After an hour or so, the gifts were all opened, the kids were trying out their new goods, and the older kids and adults spent some time doing this....

Not me, though.  I couldn't sleep, because I was too excited and wanted to play with my new toys too (a new lens for my camera).



*************