Christmas Eve and Day

We've had a jam packed two days celebrating!  On Christmas Eve, we headed to Grandpa and Jennifer's for a late lunch and gift exchange...

It's always so chaotic during gift opening, so requested that the kids go one at a time.  We started with the youngest...

Hunter and Char opened their stockings together while I opened Grey's...

Then it was time for Charlotte's gifts...

It was a Sofia themed Christmas Eve for her!

 The kids had fun with their cousins and Grandpa, and then we headed to Nanny and Grandad's for a quick gift exchange with them.  We didn't get home and in bed until around 10:30.  Then James and I stayed up until about 1am putting everything together.  Charlotte came down around 3am because she was scared, but I was too tired to walk her back up, so she just slept with us.  It's never a good night's sleep with that little radiator in bed with you, so I was really tired when Hunter came into our room around 6:45.  We pulled ourselves out of bed, though, and the 4 of us headed into the living room (Grey was still sleeping).  Hunter was so excited when he saw his electric scooter...

It goes super fast!  Char fell off on her first (and probably last for a while) try, but Hunter is really good at it.

Checking out his cool Lego watch...

And Barnes and Noble gift card...

He loves to read, so I think he'll love going to pick out his own book.

Char's big gift is the Frozen castle in the background.  She's checking out her Sofia book here...

The Lego Movie!

I have no idea which stocking stuffer this is, but apparently she likes it!

 

Ariel bubble bath...

She got 3 pairs of earrings and a singing Frozen watch...

Hunter's fun Spider Man flying toy...

Finally, Grey woke up and joined us...

He is obsessed with Mickey Mouse, so he got a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse...

He also loves Frozen, though, so he had to check out the castle.  Everytime he sees Anna, he yells "Anna!" and when he sees Elsa, he says, "Let go!"  Charlotte got so many Frozen toys, that I've been hearing "Let go! Let go!" over and over today.  He especially loves this box that had a Frozen necklace in it that has Elsa singing "Let it Go" every time you open it.  He's been carrying it around all day today and yelling "Let Go!" when the music stops.

A Mickey cup...

And probably his favorite toy of the day, a Mickey fan...

Before all of the "Let go!" talk, he just said, "Meow! Meow! Meow! Donald." all day.  (He calls Mickey Mouse "meow").

Grey loves looking at pictures of family more than any kid I know.  He's torn up 2 of my photo books, so I made him his own photo board book.  He loves it and has requested it the past two nights for his bedtime story...

Sweet brothers...

James and I stopped doing Christmas gifts for each other, except for stockings, when we had Hunter.  Stockings were always my favorite part of Christmas growing up, so I love that we have this tradition with each other.  This year, we had 3 of the same gifts in our stocking.  We know each other well!  Catching Fire, iTunes, and Ghiradelli...

I made a cinnamon roll Christmas tree for breakfast...

Easiest Christmas breakfast ever!

All the kids drank from their new cups...

After breakfast, we pulled out the gifts from the Thayers and Smiths (James's and my sisters and family) since they weren't here to spend Christmas with us...

Grey had clothes in that bag.

Char got some books from Aunt Courtney and Uncle Nathan...

James got some Crown from his sister and fam...

Hunter got a Percy Jackson book from my sister and fam and flipped his lid.  There were 3 gifts he was really excited about this year and this was probably the best reaction...

He's doing a dance here and singing, "I got Percy Jackson!"

Char got another Frozen watch...

And a snuggly Olaf!

(Notice the new Frozen blanket tied around her neck.  It was a Frozen Christmas for her!)

Hunter also got this fun toy from Aunt Melanie and family..

It's one of my favorite gifts of his.

 

Hunter also got some money to go spend!

 

After getting ourselves and our food ready, we headed to Aunt Katie's.  After lunch, we opened gifts again.  It was a little more chaotic than the night before, but better than usual:)

Nana got Charlotte a Kristoff doll...

Now her set is complete with Anna, Elsa, Hans, and Kristoff barbies.

Grey got a push lawn mower...

Hunter has been begging for one of these Snackees cups...

And a Wubble Bubble ball...

(Can you tell he loves tv?)

Charlotte got an Elsa flipeez hat (sticking with the "as seen on tv" theme)!  You can see her braid flipping up here...

And this fun Anna hat...

Grey mowed and mowed with his new lawn mower all through Aunt Katie's house that day...

Aunt Katie got Charlotte an Anna doll...

Hunter got lots of gifts, too, but I didn't get many pictures of him for some reason.  After gifts and games, we headed over to Grandee and Poppy's for dinner. 

Even though it was our fourth time to open gifts, the kids weren't tired of it yet!

This is the gift Hunter had been waiting for all day...

Minecraft for the Xbox.  I think he's excited...

This is the Frozen box that Grey keeps playing with...

Roller skates!

Hunter and Charlotte have been skating all around the house today.  They love their skates!  Char also got a light up Elsa dress that sings:)

Grey pooped on my shirt, so I had to put on this one (much to James's dismay)...

 

After all of that crazy, busy, face stuffing, gift exchanging, we came home and were able to sit quietly as a family and read John 3:16-17.  Hunter actually recited John 3:16 for us when I told him what verses I'd be reading.  We are so thankful that God sent his only son from the riches of Heaven to be born in a lowly manger.  All so that we could be forgiven and live eternally with him.  Not for condemnation, but for salvation.  We love you, Jesus!  Charlotte keeps saying, "I love Jesus and God so much.  I wish I could just kiss and hug them right now!"  And one day, we will!