Each year my parents buy a new little stuffed noisemaker to go under the tree.
This year, I think instead of that, they bought a snowman with a plunger that sits in their bathroom and when you turn on the light it speaks to you. It's cute - "Hello! You're looking a little flushed." - and it comes with about 10 different sayings. However, it scares the crap out of me everytime I walk in their bathroom. I don't expect something to start a conversation with me at that point.
Anyway - these are a huge hit with the little kids and this year Katelyn turned every single jingler on at the same time. She was pretty happy.
We started off with our annual family picture. This gets so much easier to take each year as the kids get older and can sit 10 seconds without moving. But right now, 10 seconds is about all we get. And it's just barely enough time for me to run to my spot after setting the camera. I imagine that will get more difficult as the years go by.
After that, it's off to deliver Santa's stockings and presents from under the tree. For some reason, this is usually left to the girls.
Some kids just sit around waiting for things to arrive at "their" spot. "Grabby" - pictured below - was only too happy to receive his allotted pile.
Santa included bubble gum for my kids. Joy of joys. Interestingly, Santa only delivers bubble gum at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
The Smith girls were anxious to get into their stockings. Dan was trying to figure out the new-fangled flashlight Santa left for him.
The Runchey's had to get right to work sorting and putting things together.
I just have to point out the Runchey girls' shirts. The reindeer face is made from their hand and foot prints. This was a project my sister requested my mom to help with. The shirts turned out super cute!
In our family we take turns openings gifts. That way we can all see the reactions and things are just slowed down which really makes it a lot less stressful in my opinion. One of my favorite parts of watching the kids is their reactions to their gifts.
There's the look of wonder...
I tried to get Katelyn's expressions....FAIL
Ashley looked like this after almost every gift. It was accompanied by a big *gasp*!
I have no idea where they get it...
My mom has a reaction for every gift. I'm pretty sure she'll be the first to tell you she loves presents - any presents. Including ironing board covers.
And plastic banks that count the change as you save it...
(Okay - seriously? We tried it. It actually is pretty cool and fun that it worked.)
But, she also received a laundry sorter as well as a British Comedy DVD. I mean...British Comedy? Each of these gifts and more received it's own reaction of pure happiness. And these were all things on her list. We aren't horrible kids.
As for dad? He gives us a list of 10 things that he has to work really hard to think of.
This year we gave him an empty box to open.
He wasn't sure to make of it. But, we couldn't figure out how to wrap his actual gift, so it was placed in a large un-Christmas-y garbage bag.
To prove my point - here's the Runchey's gift to him...wrapped in a paper bag:
This year Maddie received a package of about a dozen nail polish colors. She'll never run out.
She also received a make-up set.
Tracy, Kelly and I were trying to explain the concept of "less is more" to Maddie. Then we started discussing how each of us really doesn't have much of a clue as to the proper way to apply make-up. Kelly said she planned on sending her daughters to a friend of hers to learn how to apply makeup. This was slightly discouraging to me because I had planned on sending Maddie to Kelly.
When presents were done, Ellie had something very important to tell Grandpa. I'm not sure either one of us knew what she was actually saying.
Then my dad leaned over and gave her a little kiss on the cheek. And I took a picture but my flash hadn't warmed back up. Grrr! I have a great, dark shot of it though, if you are still interested, Tracy.
The last bit of gift giving was a Pillow-Pet for each kid from my parents.
These were a huge hit! At one point, Jake went to grab Ashley's for something and this adorable little three-year-old turned into something possessed and said in the scariest voice, "That. Is. MY. Pillow." Seriously - straight out of "The Excorist" kind of voice. Jake quickly moved away.
All that excitement was followed by play time by everyone...
It was followed by nap time for some...
I believe Rob and Dan each tried to use their children's pillows, but each was denied by that child and the pillow was taken back - sometimes forcefully.
All the excitement was mostly followed by food.
This is only a small sampling of what we had. Mom had spent the last month baking cookies and had about 15 different types of cookies. There were also all the standards of junk food we all request each year. We also had some "real" food...
15 pounds of crab legs started that part of eating off right!
All followed by more playing, more food, more napping, and more eating. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
A very fun day with the family and a great way to kick off "Christmas Week!"
1 comment:
Great pictures! My favorites are the last two, but I like them all. (p.s. I signed up for an on-line Photoshop class in January.)
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