Finally it was Christmas morning!! Normally if its a non school or work day, we have to drag Killian out of bed at 9am (Rowan is usually up by 8am). Not today though - Killian woke us up at 6:30 in the morning! I told him it was too early to open presents and that he had to wait until 7:30 like we had talked about the night before. He was in our room at 7:30 on the dot, declaring that it was time to go check out the presents. We don't let either of the kids go out to the living room without us on Christmas morning, because Matthew and I like to see their smiles when they see whats waiting for them. Killian went to wake Rowan up, who got out of bed like it was on fire! They ran out to the living room, and ooohed and aaahed at their presents, and promptly tore into their stockings. Harlow helped them check everything out:
We made a quick breakfast of oatmeal (Santa always leaves some in their stockings) but the kids were too excited to eat much. Next it was time to open Santa presents! Rowan got the Polly pocket roller coaster that she had wanted so badly, and Killian got his flix tricks bikes, as well as a Lego set that he had been asking for:
They opened the rest of their presents, but I didn't take any pictures because I wanted to be in the moment with them. They were delighted by everything that they got, which made Matthew and I really happy. Matthew and I had decided not to exchange gifts this year, other than two books we had bought each other in November. He got the new Stephen King book, and I got Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day. Hopefully it will help me get back in the swing of making our own bread!
One of the kids favorite presents was the two guitars we had bought them to go with the Xbox 360. They had first played Guitar Hero over at Tanya's house, and loved it so much - its all they would talk about when they would come home from playing over there. So we decided to get them each a guitar, along with the Rock band and Guitar Hero games. They were so excited - and look, Killian already has his rocker face on!
We stayed home for the rest of the morning, building new toys and playing with the kids. Around noon we packed up and headed out to Scappoose to Michelle's house. They have a beautiful home, and it was fun seeing it all decorated and set up - the last time we were out there was to help them move in October!
Everyone was able to come over except Dustin, Matthews brother. We missed him, but it was great having all the cousins together! All the boys had been with their dads on Thanksgiving, so we haven't seen them all together in a while. Takoda shocked me by asking me to take his picture and actually smiling for it - usually he gives me a horribly scowly face. So I have to post this because its a first:
Orion is growing up so fast! He is 14 now, and is so....teenagerish! He is such a funny kid, it was great spending time with him, we don't get to see him often enough these days since he lives in LaPine. We miss him! Here are some of the guys together - Orion on the left, Riley next to him, Matthew and then some strange boy making faces that I may or may not be related too ;)
Michelle and Jason fixed up a wonderful dinner for us, and we ate until we were stuffed. Then it was time for dessert!
Red Velvet cake before:
And after!
It was delicious, and I was so happy with how it turned out. Very festive, and completely perfect for Christmas dinner :)
We sat around talking, opened some more presents and ate a bit more before it was time to head back home. It was bedtime by the time we got back here, so we got the kids in pjs, read books, and shuffled them off to bed. It was by far my favorite Christmas ever for our family. It was so relaxing, nothing felt rushed or pressured, and we all had a great time enjoying what makes Christmas so wonderful - our family and the love that we have for each other.
We made a quick breakfast of oatmeal (Santa always leaves some in their stockings) but the kids were too excited to eat much. Next it was time to open Santa presents! Rowan got the Polly pocket roller coaster that she had wanted so badly, and Killian got his flix tricks bikes, as well as a Lego set that he had been asking for:
They opened the rest of their presents, but I didn't take any pictures because I wanted to be in the moment with them. They were delighted by everything that they got, which made Matthew and I really happy. Matthew and I had decided not to exchange gifts this year, other than two books we had bought each other in November. He got the new Stephen King book, and I got Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day. Hopefully it will help me get back in the swing of making our own bread!
One of the kids favorite presents was the two guitars we had bought them to go with the Xbox 360. They had first played Guitar Hero over at Tanya's house, and loved it so much - its all they would talk about when they would come home from playing over there. So we decided to get them each a guitar, along with the Rock band and Guitar Hero games. They were so excited - and look, Killian already has his rocker face on!
We stayed home for the rest of the morning, building new toys and playing with the kids. Around noon we packed up and headed out to Scappoose to Michelle's house. They have a beautiful home, and it was fun seeing it all decorated and set up - the last time we were out there was to help them move in October!
Everyone was able to come over except Dustin, Matthews brother. We missed him, but it was great having all the cousins together! All the boys had been with their dads on Thanksgiving, so we haven't seen them all together in a while. Takoda shocked me by asking me to take his picture and actually smiling for it - usually he gives me a horribly scowly face. So I have to post this because its a first:
Orion is growing up so fast! He is 14 now, and is so....teenagerish! He is such a funny kid, it was great spending time with him, we don't get to see him often enough these days since he lives in LaPine. We miss him! Here are some of the guys together - Orion on the left, Riley next to him, Matthew and then some strange boy making faces that I may or may not be related too ;)
Michelle and Jason fixed up a wonderful dinner for us, and we ate until we were stuffed. Then it was time for dessert!
Red Velvet cake before:
And after!
It was delicious, and I was so happy with how it turned out. Very festive, and completely perfect for Christmas dinner :)
We sat around talking, opened some more presents and ate a bit more before it was time to head back home. It was bedtime by the time we got back here, so we got the kids in pjs, read books, and shuffled them off to bed. It was by far my favorite Christmas ever for our family. It was so relaxing, nothing felt rushed or pressured, and we all had a great time enjoying what makes Christmas so wonderful - our family and the love that we have for each other.