Christmas 2019

 Finally, Christmas morning had arrived! 

Addie loves to talk about how our house has two staircases, and the kids can just use the back staircase to come sneak a look at their presents on Christmas morning if the parents have the front staircase blocked. But we outsmarted them this year, and Brian supervised room exits from upstairs while I guarded downstairs! 

They finally got the greenlight, and down the front staircase they bounded...

to find the biggest dollhouse Addie had ever seen! Taller than her in fact. :)

Collins found a watch waiting for her...

and Luke became the owner of a new bike!

He also found a new jersey (shocking I know), new hockey sticks...

and his first Hot Wheels set!

They love to run straight from Santa presents to the stockings, but we had a new plan in mind this year. We felt like last year the present part of Christmas was way too rushed, and it had a greedy feel to it. I talked to many friends about how they operate Christmas day to get the most meaning and fulfillment out of it, and the major consensus was to slow things down. Open Santa presents, then have a nice leisurely breakfast, then do stockings, then maybe play a little bit, then maybe open presents from under the tree. In other words- draw the excitement of this day out as long as possible. So we did, and everyone ended up enjoying things so much more. 

After opening and smiling and eating and playing, it was finally time to pull ourselves together and to get dressed for the day. After all, we were hosting Christmas dinner that night and we had some cooking to do.

But before we could worry about that, we needed to take this bike outside for a spin...

Took some practice to get comfortable on the balance bike, but our backyard was the perfect place to start.

We headed over to Gigi's and Pop Pops to get Luke's other present from last night...

Luke promptly took the wheel of his tractor...

and Collins attempted this?!?

A gorgeous day for all the activities we enjoy (tractors/Legos/breadmaking)...

then look who arrived! So thankful they made the long trip on Christmas day so we could all celebrate together. 

Brian smoked a prime rib- a Christmas dream come true. I don't have the same smoked prime rib obsession that he has, but I have to say it was really delicious. Especially with Donna's twice-baked potatoes!

We ate, and laughed, and enjoyed a Christmas dinner at home. I fell asleep watching a Christmas movie, thankful for my many blessings and for what turned out to be a fabulous Christmas 2019.