Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! The kids were so fun to watch. This year they both were old enough to actually enjoy what's on the inside of the present more than the wrapping paper! Although, we could have given them just one present each because after they opened the first one they just wanted to get it out and play. I didn't take very many pictures of them opening presents because I was getting it on video, but here's a few taken throughout the day.

We gave them a new kitchen to have in their play room, so Grandma Kristy got them a matching table. They loved eating on it so much, I finally had to take it downstairs before it became a permanent fixture in my kitchen.

Why is it that the parents get SO EXHAUSTED but the kids have a bucketful of energy?
Jayci loves anyone she can mooch pie and ice cream off of! Here she is with Uncle Alex at Grandma and Grandpa Elies's house.

I told myself that this year I would do better and not buy them too much, and I really thought I did pretty good until everything was out and unwrapped. At the end of the day we did our traditional present picture (I always did this growing up because my Grandma insisted!) and I really felt overwhelmed with the amount of toys that were threatening to take over our house! I ended up putting several of them away, unopened. My kids are too young to remember everything they got, so now we have their next birthdays and Christmas covered! (No, I didn't buy all these. This was their entire loot, from both sets of Grandparents, and from aunts, uncles, and cousins! Thanks everyone! Maybe next year I won't buy anything. They'll still get spoiled!)

Santa got Jayci a new baby that has a binky! She loves it! Out of all the really cute babies to choose from he knew that that would be the one she'd play with and love the most, because of the one little accessory she came with. Click on the picture to enlarge it and look at what Jayci's holding. That's how she HAS to go to bed, or she'll just cry and cry. She has to have one binky in her mouth, and one in each hand. She preferes to have even a few more sprinkled in her bed. We had a fabulous, exhausting, Christmas. We were able to go to my parents for lunch and Jesse's for dinner, and that's what Christmas is all about. I love my family. My healthy kids and loving husband are the greatest gifts I could hope for, let alone have! Jess and I had the opportunity of participating in a small sub-for-santa on Christmas Eve. That was one of the hightlights of the season because the feelings of being able to give back come from the true source of happiness, our Savior Jesus Christ.