Christmas Celebration #1 ~ Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is one of our most special traditions to share with our kids.  While we have done Santa in our house for the last few years, we do strive to teach our children what Christmas is really about and to teach them through all of our traditions about Jesus' love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.  For now, it is hard to not do Santa when so many others do, and the kids see and hear of him everywhere.  He is more of a "character" in our stories though than a real person.  If I am honest, I really can't remember a time in my childhood when I actually believed that a real Santa figure brought presents to my house.  I think I always kind of knew the presents were from mom and dad, and it still felt pretty magical to me.  I think if we really came out and asked Evan about Santa, he would reason the same way.  Instead, we focus on teaching him that Jesus is a real character and that his story is real.

Eddie and I consider ourselves very lucky that so far our kids have kindly allowed us to sleep on Christmas morning and actually give us time to get up and get dressed before going downstairs to see their presents. Evan woke up first and patiently waited in our room until we were dressed, and Brody awoke.  Mommy and Daddy were still pretty tired from the duties of the night, but we didn't have to go downstairs and have pictures of us with crazy bed hair in our pajamas another year.  Haha!  I intentionally want the boys to have crazy hair and wear their Christmas pajamas though because that is part of the Christmas memories.

We left our milk and cookies out for Santa.

We had promised Evan that he and Brody could open their presents from each other on Christmas Eve. 

Brody calls Evan "Edah" and he doesn't say his own name yet...just "me." 

Evan picked out and wrapped Brody's gift.

It is a cute little dinosaur toy that transforms into a car.  Brody prefers the car. 

Evan got the new nerf gun he wanted. 

Brody drove his little car all around until bedtime and then he didn't want to let go so he fell asleep holding it.

A sweet letter Santa and our elf, Brewster, left for the boys.  Evan read the letter to us.

Our stockings were filled.

Santa informed Daddy that it was his job to set up Brody's train table.  Haha!

The train table all set up.  How often do you think it will look this "perfect"? 

Brody got some special trains from his favorite show, Chuggington.

And a little pirate ship, some puzzles, and a little drill set just like daddy's.

Evan got his own Kindle Fire with a green case, the new Skylanders Wii game he wanted, his very own real bow and arrow set with a target, and finally got Super Mario Bros. for Wii (which Mommy has wanted for a while but refused to pay $50.00 for it since it never got reduced in price).  

Brody playing with his little dinosaur car while waiting to go see what Santa brought him.

He loves his "cah." 

Sweet brothers on Christmas morning.

Big brother loves taking care of his baby brother.

This face says it all.  His Chuggington "toot toots" were definitely his favorites!

He doesn't say all the characters names, but he identifies all the characters by name correctly.  

Evan enjoyed playing with little brother's toys too.

Checking out his "toot toots."

Evan checking out his pile.

Excited about his bow and arrow.

And his very own Kindle.  The Kindle is more than a toy and is also so educational for him.  I have it set up to limit the amount of time he can play games and apps, but he has unlimited reading time.  Since the day after Christmas, he has already read the first three books in the Magic Tree House series and is almost through with the fourth book.  I am so impressed with his reading and just hope to inspire a love of reading that will last him a lifetime. 

Brody enjoyed his trains all morning.

We did pull him away from the trains briefly to check out his other gifts.

I just love his little sweet face as he drives his trains.

Evan got right to playing his new Wii games.

The joys of Christmas

Evan opened his stocking to reveal a new movie, candy, and cool new underwear.  

Brody also got a new movie and underwear in his stocking.  Ha!

And candy!