Merry Christmas!

We had the merriest Christmas of all! It hit me as we were driving to church on Christmas Eve that our whole family was in the car. We are complete. Each and every one of our precious children are with us now and that is a feeling I will treasure forever.

Christmas day was fun and exiting. Lots of toys, lots of food, lots of family!!! What more could you ask for?

I decided to try something new and different this year. Knowing that our house would be the gathering place for Christmas festivities, nevertheless, I decided NOT to stay up all night cleaning and decluttering my house so it would be perfect on Christmas day. It was a risky thing to do, I know. I had five kids' Christmas hanging in the balance.... But, an amazing thing happened... I could hardly believe it... Santa came anyway!!! And our family came. And we had a blast! And I wasn't exhausted all day long! Whew!!!

Seriously though, a great time was had by all. Alexis was wonderful and took all the excitement in stride. She is a go-with-the-flow kind of girl. She didn't understand how to tear paper off presents, but with a little help from her brothers, she figured it out quickly. Then, she would find wrapping paper on the floor and start shredding it. She was so proud of herself, it was cute. We did not go overboard on the girlie/baby presents this year and Santa only brought her a couple of toys. Even so, she had more fun watching the boys play and trying to steal their matchbox cars and remote controls. She could care less for baby dolls -- so much for my girlie girl. Alexis likes to play rough and is happiest when she is flipping upside down. Sigh. I better put all her fancy party dresses on her while I still can!

A few random, but notable stories and quotes:

Liam, when opening a remote control race car: "Just what I never wanted!" (An hour later he was racing it through the house.)

Biggest hit: A Dino magic Volcano with dissolving dinosaur eggs. The boys hatched dinosaurs ALL DAY LONG!

Nolan, upon noticing one last present that he had overlooked, which happened to be the only item he had asked for: "WhoooooHooooooooo!!!! It's here, it's here, my game is heeere!" To get the full effect, you have to picture him dancing a jig!

Preston and Garrett: glued to their new lap top computers (oh yeah, they'll stay off mine now, hehe!) building roller coasters on Roller Coaster Tycoon and and playing Age of Mythology with their cousins.

Sitting around the dinning room table with my mom, sisters, and teenage nieces telling stories of how they tortured me as a child (and how I always got them back. ;0)

Everyone loved entertaining Lexi, until she had a poopy diaper, then no one would come within four feet of her. Martin came and got me and said, "Lexi really wants to see you." Since she wasn't crying, I immediately knew what was up.

Watching Lexi's Auntie Bunner discover just how much our baby girl can eat. Elaine fed her sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, rice, ham, turkey, dressing... and anything else within arms reach. The girl can eat! I know she has gained at least 1 1/2 to 2 pounds since we left Russia.

Martin calling me on my gift as I was opening it. The Verison Blackberry Storm. I didn't know how to answer it!


Who knew a Christmas coloring book could make Nolan so happy?

Wookie wore his Christmas sweater all day -- even though it was 68 degrees outside.

My beautiful nieces are all so stylish. I'm going to be calling on them once Lexi figures out that I have no fashion sense whatsoever. :0)

Topping the night off with a movie at the Springfield Cinema. "Bedtime Stories" was both cute and funny. Finally Adam Sandler makes a kid-friendly movie with no foul language.

Preston said this was the best Christmas EVER! I have to agree!

The next post will have all photos!