Christmas Day - the recap

Merry Christmas (a few days late) to you! Oh, how our day was great! Here's the run-down:

Mr. Caedon cried on and off throughout the night, probably due to the four teeth he's cutting.

My phone alarm went off at 6:15am so I could prep the newly-thawed bread dough for cinnamon rolls, then go back to bed and bake them later.

I heard the crying, footsteps, and commotion...and instantly knew what I'd meet back in bed: Hubby, a little boy and his bear, AND a little girl. At 6:30am. On Christmas morning. Still dark out. *sigh* We attempted to make everyone go back to sleep for at least an hour. It turned into an hour of whispers, laughing, and pretend sleep. While not the best kind of sleep, it was still the funnest kind.

We headed downstairs at 7:30am to make coffee, throw cinnamon buns in the oven, get the camera ready, and start the gift-opening. Hubby read Jesus' birth to us from the Bible (our annual tradition), and the opening commenced. The kiddos loved the fleece blankets we made for them (tie & knot blankets, not sewing machine...very easy!), Danae loved every Hello Kitty item we put in her stocking, and Caedon has been carrying around his new dinosaur like it's attached to him. A small Christmas, but that's what we like!

Next up: Grandma and Grandpa's house (Hubby's parents) to see everyone and open gifts there.

The kids lasted until 12 or so, then the crying and eye-rubbing began. We headed home for lunch and an afternoon of kid-naps while Hubby and I packed for our trip to NJ to Nana and Papa's house (my parents). I thought about making an awesome Christmas dinner, but when the idea hit us to have Chinese food (just like the Parker's in A Christmas Story), we quickly changed plans and ordered out. Oh, how awesome to just enjoy take-out and watch a movie on Christmas night! We played, laughed, enjoyed food, and played with princess toys, motorcycles, and trucks.

Next: An early Saturday morning departure for NJ. The kids were up at 6:30am (crazy, I know!), so we ate, packed up the car, and were out the door by 7:30am, arriving in time to wake up most of the house. Danae is in love with her cousins, Meagan and Madison, so waking them up was pure joy for her. Saturday brought games, food/snacks, naps, and a visit with my cousin and her family. Her daughter is two days younger than Caedon, so it's fun to see them interact and play (or hit each other...whatever!). :o) At night we did a Secret Santa exchange and a White Elephant exchange, laughing at the crazy things that people brought.

Now I'm sitting here, after a night of continual child-waking, feeling quite exhausted and wondering where 2009 went! It seems that the years go by quicker as you get older!