Christmas

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  Literally.  I love the smells, the shopping, the Christmas trees (looking at them, not decorating them), the food (eating it, not cooking it), the kids' excitement, the parties, but most of all the reason for the season.  The anticipation for Christmas Day starts immediately after Halloween for me.  I start making lists and checking them twice, whether it's a list of food I will serve (buy/have catered), what I want to get for the kids, or my Christmas list I have lots and lots of lists.  But to be fair, that is true in my everyday normal life as well.  

But back to the anticipation.  I feel like all the anticipation builds and builds reaching a fever pitch on Christmas Eve, exploding on Christmas morning.  And by Christmas night all the presents have been opened, the refrigerator is full of left overs, the dishwasher is full of dirty dishes, the recycling bin is full of 8 tons of wrapping paper and boxes, and most everyone prepares for a normal day the next morning.  But, I want to challenge that.  It has always bothered me a little that Christmas night is not the climax.  On Christmas night about the time I was loading the dishwasher was probably about the time that Mary gave birth to baby Jesus in a stable (with no anesthesia).  Now I know that on my birthday I prefer to start my celebration the second I wake up and I am winding down as I go to bed, but I do think we should all make a better effort to recognize Christmas night for what it is, the time in which Mary was in a city that was not her home and giving birth to our savoir (with no anesthesia).  And thank God for him!  He is the only thing keeping me from eternal damnation for the words I uttered while sitting in shopping traffic the last Saturday before Christmas.

I don't say any of that to make people feel bad or make it sound like I am more reverent than 95% of the world because I am not.  I actually have only had this thought over the last 3-4 years (soon after giving birth for the first time myself.).  I just thought it would be worth blogging about to help us all (myself included) remember that after all the presents are opened, food eaten, garbage taken out, and the sun sets that is when a young teenage girl gave birth to the baby (with no anesthesia) that would save all of humanity.

Now back to the Jackson, Mary Frances, and Rook show!  Someone should have put the brakes on Santa! He went a little over board.  When I uttered those words in front of Matt as a joke I thought he was going to choke me (considering the fact that he told Santa several times that the kids had too many gifts).  Oh well!

I would like to point out that Christmas was a little disappointing for Jackson until he opened his bike helmet from Gran and Paw.  Even with all of the toys seen above, his first questions was "Where is the helmet?"  God love him.  As for Franny she slept until almost 9:00 and when she finally got up she immediately started washing clothes in her washer and dryer!  Big R says Santa was sexist with his toys this year (a washer and dryer and vacuum cleaner.

But, I think Rook's giant house toy was the biggest hit.  Before Rook woke up Jackson explained to us that Rook would share and began playing with Rook's loot before the poor little guy got up.

Riding a bike inside you just received from Santa might be the most fun thing ever!

How adorable are these boys playing together?

And my big boy on is Lighting McQueen car!

Franny finally got up!

Sheshe got Rook his Pottery Barn Kids chair and now we are riding 3 wide in the playroom as well.

Franny tried it out and liked it.  Please notice her Minnie Mouse Shoes that Gaga got her.  They have heels on them and she is in love with them and walks in them very well (she is my daughter after all).  I have a feeling that they may be the only shoes Franny wears for a while.

Jackson made his rounds and played with ALL of the toys Santa brought including the Disney Princess Castle.

The kids got so many toys we have annexed the dinning room.  Not to worry though, the bikes will be going outside and the vanity and train table will be going in to bedrooms as soon as I have time to rearrange!

Check out these adorable shirts I bought on sale before Christmas for Christmas 2014!  They came in the mail yesterday (the day after Christmas) and we are all set for next year!  I know, I am nuts, but they were on sale and had all the right sizes.  I just couldn't resist!

Overall, The Millers had a great Christmas and Jackson even told us it was "the best Christmas ever!"  The bike helmet put us over the top.  It was the best Christmas ever, it was our first Christmas with 3 kids with many many more to come.  We have been blessed beyond measure and I could not ask for more.  Well, I do keep praying for more sleep, but I don't want to get greedy.  :)

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!