Merry Christmas One and All!

Camilla and Madeline wanted their alarm set for 7:00 so they could come open presents (my kids have never been ones to wake really early on Christmas). Since that was totally reasonable, I agreed to do so. Some how I accidentally set the thing for 6:00 instead of 7. They woke up all excited to open presents then saw that it wasn't actually 7 at all. Being the wonderful girls that they are, they waited an entire hour before coming upstairs! They dressed for church, decorated head-wreaths (you can kind of see them in the picture), then waited in their beds (with only the sheet on so they wouldn't get warm and fall asleep!) until it was FINALLY 7 and they could come upstairs!

Camilla did get the camera she requested and has taken hundreds of pictures!!

Eliza got her pink bubblegum toothpaste as well as FOUR toothbrushes--and they're scented, too.

Two lollipops for our Tali-Pop! She has only eaten one so far--she likes to save things!

Because her request was so modest, Natalia also received a new pop-up tent from Santa. We got one from Aunt Megan and Uncle Ross before she was born and it has been played to death! It was needing to be replaced, so I'm sure glad Santa pulled through!

As Eliza only made the humble toothpaste/brush request, she was also blessed with an extra Santa toy and got a Baby Alive. By the way, their older sisters both thought it was unfair that they received EXTRA presents from Santa!

Sweet Madeline had been wanting a weaving kit--I don't know where she got the idea for it, but it was a good one!

Here it is in action--it was quite simple and fun to use. She'll be creating lots of handbags, scarves, belts, etc. You can put in a request if you like!

Anna was thrilled to find chocolates all over the living room floor and busied herself eating as many as she could before being noticed!

Anna also received a Baby Alive which she likes, but it will never take the place of Blue Nose Bear!

Eliza drew Camilla's name for Christmas and made her this cute carrying case for her camera.

Natalia got a flashlight from Anna and it has become one of her favorite items!

This is how happy we were to open all our presents all morning! (And may I add, the girls all patiently waited until after church to open presents).

Kevin made us a game called "Bump-Off" similar to Sorry or Trouble. It's one that was originally created by his grandpa or uncle--can't remember which.

This is what Camilla looked like most of Christmas vacation!

These are all their Christmas clothes being modeled. They are standing on top of our "big" family gift--a trampoline. Since it was just a box, it was kind of anti-climatic. It was never mentioned when they were asked what they got for Christmas. But they did all like standing on the box!

Natalia used her flashlight to help us see what we were doing as we opened our presents. It was much appreciated!

Christmas on Sunday was nice in lots of ways--would have been nicer if Kevin could have come to church with us. He had to go do the sacrament at the hospital (a very noble cause even if it did make me feel like a widow). It happened to be the same time as our sacrament at which I had to sing. Most of the girls can handle sitting by themselves for a short time, but not Anna! I gave her a bag of marshmallows to eat, but she still bawled and had to spend time in the foyer with Madeline as I sang. Very festive! Kevin made it back to church just in time for me to be done singing!

Still, I think it was good for my girls to wait and open presents after we had been to church and remembered the real meaning of the day. I love, love, love Christmas and being able to spend so much uninterrupted time with my family!

Merry Christmas!