christmas morning

This is in fact the only still photo we got of the big morning.  I am not going to call this a parenting fail because everything else is on video, and it is really cute.  Sadly, I can not get any of them to upload.  That may or may not be a parenting fail.  I suppose I should be more savvy and be able to figure it out.  oh well.  So here is the skinny, minus the footage. 

Chad told the kids on Christmas Eve that if they came downstairs and tried to see if Santa had come that all of their presents would disappear.  It worked like a charm.  Aimee was so worried about it that I am not sure how long she was awake in her room waiting!  Porter and Pratt were trapped so I wasn't worried about them.  Plus, Chad rigged a booby trap at the top of the stairs.  He closed the baby gate and put bells on it to alert us to a potential peeker!

I finally had been laying awake in bed for a while before I told Chad that we were going to get the kiddos now.  Since we had done a good job preparing, set-up had been a snap, and we got to bed at a decent time, so there was no complaints.

We woke up the boys and told them that we had seen that Santa had come.  Then like the mean parents we made them wait to go see until we were ready to film.  Once the kids were down the stairs Pratt immediately jumped onto the rocking horse Aimee had ordered from Santa for him.  We had a bit of a time getting him off to open other things.  Porter found the train set and table that the Grandpa's and Grandma's had "sent" for him and Pratt, and Aimee was overjoyed to see that she did in fact get a dress-up with sparkles (sequins) and jewels (one jewel) on it.  It wasn't rainbow colored, but I hear the elves don't make them that way.

We let the kids take turns opening gifts.  Mostly, they got things they needed, like underwear and pj's, but they were happy.  Chad and I really try to keep it simple, so we don't get too lost in the gifts.  Just before we turned on the computer to Skype the grandparents, Chad gathered the babies, and once again reminded them of why we celebrate.  He is so good to take those teaching moments! 

The Spirit was in our home that special morning.  I think that was the most significant thing.  Just not being so caught up in stuff that is was easy to recognize I think was a win!  We ate Eggs A La Golden Rod and talked to our families.  We played with new toys, watched new movies, and enjoyed having Chad home for the day (he was supposed to work, but when they found out he and one other guy had kids, they told them to stay home)!  It was a beautiful day to celebrate the birth of our Lord!