Christmas 2010

I've decided to follow my good friend, Linda's example, and approach my Christmas post by way of some of my favorite things.

Some of my favorite things about Christmas day were:

1) Waking up to a white Christmas. My kids had done the math a few weeks before Christmas and figured out that there was a 5% chance that we could have a white Christmas. That was pretty exciting when it really happened!  It started snowing on Christmas Eve and snowed all day Christmas and part of the day after.

2) Having breakfast together.  After the kids see their Santa gift and look in their stockings, and before we open presents, we always have breakfast together.  We do this every year, and I love it.  My parents started the tradition of having breakfast together before we went into the room to see what Santa brought.  We have revised that somewhat because we let them see their Santa gift and stockings first.  We always have the Danish almond roll along with fruit from their stockings and hot chocolate.  It was especially warm and cozy this year with it snowing outside.

3) Seeing the kids excitement about giving.  This year more than ever, the kids really put a lot of thought into their gifts they gave each other, and they used their own money.  They were very anxious and excited when people opened gifts from them.  Since starting the token economy last spring, they have been earning their own money, and they were very generous.  Eric and I both enjoyed shopping with them for each other's gifts. 

I took Jarem and Jesikah shopping one night and they were being so careful to keep things from each other and me.  It was a tender mommy moment for me when Jarem only had $5 left and he really wanted silly bands.  He still had one more person to buy for.  He was laying on the floor in the store crying because he wanted the silly bands.  We are trying to let the kids make their own decisions, so I told him that he would have to make a decision.  He could buy the silly bands for $5 or buy a present for Mom.  He laid there quiet for a minute and then he said he made up his mind...he wanted to buy a present for Mom.  He immediately went and put the silly bands back.  Jesikah grabbed his hand and said she knows just the kind of things that Mom likes and they ran off together to secretly find something.  I had a tear or two in my eye seeing my 5 year old have that internal struggle and come to that decision.

Alex selected Jarem's first gift to open and it was the one from him.  It was a 3 pack of nerf guns.  Alex chose this gift because it was something he knew he loved at that age.  Jarem loved them.

This is what followed

4) Hugs. We had lots of hugs this year as the kids opened each other's gifts and gave hugs for their appreciation.  It was nice to see lots of hugging because, believe it or not, on regular days they often argue more than hug. :)

Jesikah got makeup from Alex.  This was definitely something she wanted and she was surprised that Alex knew.

This is a particularly rare moment when Alex and Jesikah hug.

Tessa's gift to Jesikah, a snowglobe that lights up and changes colors.  Jesikah collects snowglobes.

Tessa opening her present from Jesikah. Jesikah and Tessa attached big bags of candy to each gift they gave. Jesikah had Tessa her pink puffy vest (which was still in great condition) and a 2010 brown fluffy bear.

Eric opening a gift from one of the kids (Jarem I think)

Hugs for the church socks Jarem gave Alex

This was my only picture of the day.  I was opening my gift from Jesikah.  She was very generous, as is her way.  She gave me a 2-pack of gloves, vanilla shea-infused socks from Bath & Body Works, vanilla buttercream cupcake body butter, cute boot socks, and a lemon cupcake B&BW antibacterial hand sanitizer as well as a bag of candy.

This was particularly tender.  The card in the middle is from Jarem.  He wrote I love you Dad, and inside there were several coins.  Eric seemed a little confused and Jarem instantly explained that he heard Eric say that he didn't have any money so he gave him all his money so he would have some.  It was so sweet!  The card to the left was a card Tessa made for Eric as well as the little Christmas tree to the right (which Tessa made out of Pixos). 

Hugs from Jarem for Tessa's gift: Star Wars Legos

Tessa showing off her snowglobes from Alex.  Alex and I looked in several stores to find a snowglobe for Tessa.  In the end, we found a sale and he had enough money to buy her two.

Alex's necklace from Aeroposale from Jesikah.  She also have him body spray from Aeropostale.

Jarem opening his gift from Jesikah. She got him two little Lego sets and SILLY BANDS. She had already picked his gift when he had the "silly band trauma" but after she saw his dilemma over the silly bands, so added those to her gift as well.

Jarem giving Jesikah hugs for the gift



Probably one of Alex's favorite gifts was from Tessa.  It was a big, soft blanket.  Alex is always cold and taking everyone's blankets around the house.  He loves this one.




Feel the love!




Hugs for Tessa



Showing how many people can fit...it was a twin size




Jarem's gift to Tessa.  It was paintable bobble head figures.  She enjoyed painting them.

5) Legos! Legos! Legos! I know most of you probably hate Legos because you are always stepping on them and they are always all over the floor.  You might even be happy when you vacuum them up. :)  But as for me, I love Legos.  Our Lego love started about 4-5 years ago when Alex got several boxes of random Lego pieces for Christmas that I bought on Ebay and cleaned and sorted.  (Before that, Alex loved Legos, but we always bought him the sets and Eric would help him build it the first time and then he would take it apart and make other stuff.  I would get frustrated because we paid more money because they were specific pieces for the sets...he mostly cared about the guys and the cool pieces). Anyway, ever since then, the kids have all started to love Legos.  Alex had been into Legos for several years even before that.

Enough history though, ever since we moved here and have a place downstairs for them to play Legos, they all play together.  They make villages and towns and for Alex bases and forts.  This year was the first year that Alex felt like he had outgrown Legos (sniff, sniff).  He didn't get any for Christmas.  The rest of the kids though, all wanted Legos.  Here are a few of the sets they got:


Jesikah got 3 sets of Harry Potter Legos.  She asked for Harry Potter Legos last year and they were nowhere to be found, but this year there were new sets out.  That said though, I waited too long for a really good sale and they then became hard to find and even more expensive so I wasn't going to get the castle or the train.  Miraculously though, less than a week before Christmas, Linda found out about an unadvertised sale at the PX.  40% off all toys until 4pm that day!!  We made a quick run up there and found the castle and the Hogwarts Express 40%!!!!  (Tessa got the Hogwart's Express). Hanging around Linda almost always brings me good luck...(we won't talk about the little fight we almost got into in line though).  I will miss her when she moves! :)  We had the Lego advent calendar last year and I procrastinated getting it this year until I also found it 40% off even though it was only a few days before Christmas, the kids enjoyed opening lots of pieces at once and adding to their Lego Christmas village.




This was the set Jarem asked Santa for at the church Christmas party.  The funny thing was, Alex always makes up funny names for things and Alex, Jesikah, and Tessa each already have this set and they call them "Pingoes jumpers" when they play.  So, Jarem asked Santa for a "Pingoes jumper". :) Jarem got several other smaller sets from his siblings and us.




Seattle Space Needle...we moved from the greater Seattle area about 2 1/2 years ago, so I thought this would be a cool piece to add to their collection



Tessa loved the White House when we went to Washington DC, so we thought she would enjoy this one.

6) More Good Movies.  We like to watch good movies together as a family when we have the chance.  Each of the kids got a new movie for Christmas as well as Eric!


Jesikah's movie: Guardians of Ga'Hoole and a set of beanie baby owls that go with the story.



Tessa's "How to Train Your Dragon"




Jarem got Toy Story 3.  Alex got "The Last Airbender" and Eric got "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

7) Sonic Toothbrushes.  Alex and Jesikah both got a Sonic toothbrush.  With braces, it makes it a lot more difficult to keep their teeth clean, especially for Alex who doesn't put the effort into it.  These toothbrushes have made an amazing difference in their teeth...especially Alex.  I don't have to nag him about brushing all the time anymore and both of their teeth are already much whiter.  I am ready to buy myself one. :)

A Sonic toothbrush for Alex

7) Seeing the excitement of the kids opening gifts

Alex's gift from Santa



And something to go with it

Tessa with a couple of new petshops

Jesikah opening a Miche purse with three magnetic removable covers

We always get each of the kids books

A beanie hat for Alex

More Guardians of Ga'Hoole books for Jesikah

Boots for Tessa



And Jesikah



 

Each of the kids (except Alex) got one of the Zhu Zhu pets and have had a lot of fun with them.

Books for Eric



A remote control car for Tessa...



...And Jarem

 

A tie for Alex

Headphones for Eric...Alex was jealous

Jacket for Jesikah

Alex getting a few pics of his own on his I-touch

8) Relaxation, Legos, movies, and games for the rest of the day as well as phone calls from family.