.: Christmas morning

We celebrated our Christmas Day on 18December because that was the weekend that fell directly in the middle of Greg's 2 week R&R. We wanted to do it then so we would have time before to do last minute stuff and of course, most importantly, to spend some time together not in full on Christmas mode, then so we could have time after Christmas to play with toys with Daddy and again, spend the last days not being caught up in the hustle & bustle of Christmas. I think it was perfect. My Mom and Dad came over the night of our Christmas Eve (after the kids went to bed) and left on our Christmas Day afternoon. The McIlvoys also came over around noon on our Christmas Day and stayed until early evening time. We really had a great time. The kids really enjoyed Christmas this year. We left cookies and milk out for Santa, and we made "Magic Reindeer Dust" (oats and glitter) to sprinkle on the ground outside so the reindeer first know where to land, then have something to munch on while Santa is leaving our gifts. Sam was into finding the gifts with her name on it and opening them and actually playing with all of them. Madison liked opening gifts, but much preferred just playing with everything there! I think Christmas next year is going to be the absolute most perfect Christmas yet...they will both be SOOO into all of it!
We have adapted both of our families Christmas' and came up with what is working for us right now...Santa fills the stockings and leaves them in Mommy and Daddy's room for the kids to open in the morning first before they go downstairs (taken from my families tradition). Later, when the kids are older, the stockings will be left just outside their rooms. Then the kids go down and see what else Santa left them! {See video at the end} Pretty much all of the gifts are from Santa so they are all unwrapped (taken from Greg's family tradition).

This was a view of what used to be the dining room, but was the tree/gift room on Christmas Day, and is now the kids playroom! We couldn't fit it all in the picture.

A closer view of the tree with Santa's gifts (minus the big one). All of the wrapped gifts on the right side of the picture are extended family gifts - all the Grandparent/Aunt/Uncle gifts. Just stating that fact because we were happy we didn't go overboard this year as we have in the past!