our Christmas morning

The pictures that tell the story of our Christmas morning.

We got off to a not-super-early start.  Luke was our first riser (always!) and got in bed with us about 7.  I asked him, "Do you know what today is?" and he didn't!  ha!  Even after riding home from our big Christmas Eve party and all his talking "tomorrow is Christmas Day".... A good night of sleep erased his memory and he was happy to cuddle and wait for the big kids.  It was 8 before our resident lazy-bones (Lydia) finally joined the living room crowd and we began opening some gifts.

Cinnamon rolls waiting for the oven

Just a few gifts in to the pile.... the kids were eager to give their sibling gifts.  Always an eclectic collection of the treasures a somewhat-limited allowance will purchase :)  [We fund John Paul and Luke's present buying.]  Despite the low-funding these are easily some of the most anticipated gifts (for the giver and receiver) and one of my favorite parts of the morning is watching them give to one another.

The good news is there are some better-funded givers in the family as well ;)

I love Isaac's grin here; opening his deeply-desired and long-awaited Star Wars A-Wing Fighter lego set.

Luke is the final recipient of a treasure shelf!  OH how this boy has been feeling his need for a place to store his treasures, well out of access to all those pesky older sibs.

Nothing quite like a car transporter to compliment the ever-growing collection of matchbox cars.

A weaving loom is a sure winner with the elementary girl crowd.

More sibling gifts (pretty sure these are sparkle pens and... hmmm... maybe more sparkle pens?)

Happy boy, present in hand, new slippers on feet.

And Luke with a car transporter as well, never far from his treasure shelf and sporting his new pjs.

Just glad to have this man in the room with me to enjoy the love.

Waiting in line to open a present with Grandmama and Granddaddy on the iPad.  There was so much clamoring that I thought lining up might help :)  It didn't.

These two.  always up to something.

Our favorite 200plus page anthology of Curious George stories bit the dust; binding, pages, cover, the book literally fell apart at the seams, a victim of too much love.  Time for a new one.

Six year old + legos + heavily armed fighter jet + Star Wars = Isaac.

Two years after receiving her first little QuikStitch it was time for an upgrade.  And this time it was a shared gift - little sister is ready to sew too.

We used this set of advent candles this year and I added our little sculpture nativity scene to the middle.  We lit these candles plenty as we read Jotham's Journey in the evenings (just the big kids).

Luke is definitely our most intense child.  Happy to see him kicked back and resting in this picture :)  and wearing his new long underwear that he love love loves.

the activity slowing down, everyone in multiple layers of new clothing, Daddy reading the new Curious George book.

There are more pictures elsewhere (Matt's phone camera mostly) but for now this is what I've got and time is ticking on.

Merriest of Christmases for our family.  And a 5 year old birthday on the horizon!