After all the presents were opened this year, Madison saw the huge amount she had gotten and told us, "I've been awesome good this year."
Yes, Madison, you have been! Here she is with the big item on the Christmas list, straight from the North Pole. Yes, Santa checked off each and every item on Madison's list - and get this: he actually left the list with us Christmas morning, with a small note wishing us all a Merry Christmas! It was the very same note she handed Santa earlier, and here it is again back in her hands with every item checked off on it. How neat is that?
Speaking of which, the candy cane garden did grow. This morning, we raced over to see the pot of sugar soil, and sure enough, there were a bunch of candy canes that sprouted up over night. What a magical sort of morning this was: there were presents all under the tree, and all around the fireplace as well. There was even a present underneath Madison's pink tree (a Brave t-shirt). There were a lot of things that she got that were Brave-themed, but there were a lot of other things too! Madison opened each one, and every present was like this one here:
She was so excited all morning long. Her "Brave" items, she'd clutch closely to her chest, hugging them dearly. Other things she'd jump up and down after opening.
This morning, Daddy and Mommy were up first, just sitting there in bed waiting to hear her awake. We heard her gasp, and then her rapid footsteps down the hall to our room. She ran over to Mommy's side of the bed, and jumped up and down: "He came! Santa came!"
There was an enormous pile of wrapping paper when we were done with it all, and an even bigger pile of gifts. It was a spectacular Christmas - way too much, really. But we weren't done with it yet! The phone rang, and it was Nana and Ye-Ye: there were more gifts to come for Madison, soon enough.
We got dressed and headed over to their place, and then it was time for round two! Madison got several "Brave" dolls, and even more. It can't possibly be all listed here, for it is way too much. It was such a joy watching all the kids open their gifts this year!
Here's a photo of all of us playing the annual "White Elephant Gift Stealing Game." We don't have a name for it, and nobody seems to remember the rules exactly from year to year. The basic concept is bringing some funny gifts, and watching everyone open them and steal them from each other. This year, Daddy walked away with one of the more valuable items, an ant farm. Actually, I can't wait to try it out with Madison. She got a small random jewelry box. Other highlights include a small ceramic frog in a sombrero, and a stuffed Black Knight (from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"), complete with detachable arms and legs.
We had dinner once Nana and Aunt Shain came back with Great Grandma. Together, we ate and played with our toys and watched a few more Christmas movies, just spending time together, which is all we really need. The weather outside was supposed to be threatening a little later on, but that all held off long enough for us to enjoy the day together.
When dessert time came, it was time for some cakes! This year, Mommy made the most wonderful cake - a birthday cake for Jesus. She made the icing and everything - take a look!
It's His birthday we're celebrating, after all. This year, we did something quite unique: we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, and Madison and Hannah blew out the candles afterwards. It was a sweet moment, and a good reminder for Madison about what the day is all about.
Later on, we came home and played with our toys some more: Madison just couldn't wait. Mommy and Daddy plugged in "A Christmas Story," and the rain finally started coming down outside. It was a special Christmas, although it seems this year to have come so much more quickly. Still, we'll always remember this one for the magic of the morning, and that gleam in Madison's eyes when she saw that Santa really did come last night.
This year, Christmas was really awesome good!
Yes, Madison, you have been! Here she is with the big item on the Christmas list, straight from the North Pole. Yes, Santa checked off each and every item on Madison's list - and get this: he actually left the list with us Christmas morning, with a small note wishing us all a Merry Christmas! It was the very same note she handed Santa earlier, and here it is again back in her hands with every item checked off on it. How neat is that?
Speaking of which, the candy cane garden did grow. This morning, we raced over to see the pot of sugar soil, and sure enough, there were a bunch of candy canes that sprouted up over night. What a magical sort of morning this was: there were presents all under the tree, and all around the fireplace as well. There was even a present underneath Madison's pink tree (a Brave t-shirt). There were a lot of things that she got that were Brave-themed, but there were a lot of other things too! Madison opened each one, and every present was like this one here:
She was so excited all morning long. Her "Brave" items, she'd clutch closely to her chest, hugging them dearly. Other things she'd jump up and down after opening.
This morning, Daddy and Mommy were up first, just sitting there in bed waiting to hear her awake. We heard her gasp, and then her rapid footsteps down the hall to our room. She ran over to Mommy's side of the bed, and jumped up and down: "He came! Santa came!"
There was an enormous pile of wrapping paper when we were done with it all, and an even bigger pile of gifts. It was a spectacular Christmas - way too much, really. But we weren't done with it yet! The phone rang, and it was Nana and Ye-Ye: there were more gifts to come for Madison, soon enough.
We got dressed and headed over to their place, and then it was time for round two! Madison got several "Brave" dolls, and even more. It can't possibly be all listed here, for it is way too much. It was such a joy watching all the kids open their gifts this year!
Here's a photo of all of us playing the annual "White Elephant Gift Stealing Game." We don't have a name for it, and nobody seems to remember the rules exactly from year to year. The basic concept is bringing some funny gifts, and watching everyone open them and steal them from each other. This year, Daddy walked away with one of the more valuable items, an ant farm. Actually, I can't wait to try it out with Madison. She got a small random jewelry box. Other highlights include a small ceramic frog in a sombrero, and a stuffed Black Knight (from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"), complete with detachable arms and legs.
We had dinner once Nana and Aunt Shain came back with Great Grandma. Together, we ate and played with our toys and watched a few more Christmas movies, just spending time together, which is all we really need. The weather outside was supposed to be threatening a little later on, but that all held off long enough for us to enjoy the day together.
When dessert time came, it was time for some cakes! This year, Mommy made the most wonderful cake - a birthday cake for Jesus. She made the icing and everything - take a look!
It's His birthday we're celebrating, after all. This year, we did something quite unique: we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, and Madison and Hannah blew out the candles afterwards. It was a sweet moment, and a good reminder for Madison about what the day is all about.
Later on, we came home and played with our toys some more: Madison just couldn't wait. Mommy and Daddy plugged in "A Christmas Story," and the rain finally started coming down outside. It was a special Christmas, although it seems this year to have come so much more quickly. Still, we'll always remember this one for the magic of the morning, and that gleam in Madison's eyes when she saw that Santa really did come last night.
This year, Christmas was really awesome good!
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