Christmas 2008

For the first time ever, in my whole life, we opened presents in the morning rather than Christmas Eve. It was so fun for the kids. Yes, this is what they wore to bed the night before. It was their choice. For the love of sword-holding beltloops.......


These cute girls had appropriate footie pjs on.

Clover's sweatshirt and pants went over the top, of course. It was her first Christmas. She may have heard what was going on last year, but she didn't see any of it.

As simple as we try to keep our celebration, and as minimal as we keep the gifts, somehow we still manage to end up with an extraordinary amount of loot to unpackage, fill with batteries, find a place to store. Plus, the trash and wrapping paper. Oy. Not good for the greenness in me. I joke that presents are my hate language. They're not my favorite thing and I asked everyone I know for NONE for me. Bob cheated with a few little things (including candy. I'm secretly screaming Yay! Don't tell him.) and called them 'stocking stuffers'. Not gifts. Next year, I'm totally going to be prepared with my terminology to make sure my stocking doesn't get stuffed :)
Aside from the fact that I completely freak out with clutter and excess, I also have a hard time with how the presents overshadow that we are recognizing the birth of our lord and savior. Where would we be without him? Our savior. His birth alone is worthy of great celebration and rejoicing. But, you can't seem to get around the gift giving without being a kill-joy, weird scrooge-type family who deprives their children of the normal activities and fond memories of childhood.....so we do....only a few. And, the grandparents do an excellent job of moderate gift giving of things that will be useful and meaningful to the kids.

At noon we went to grandpa and nana's for dinner, followed by a trip to my mom's in the afternoon, where the boys stayed the night so J,C and I can go to a tea party this afternoon for a poor little girl whose birthday falls right after Christmas. Clover and I feel her pain : )
We also crashed dinner stopped by our friend's house to pick up our computer, which is now healed and healthy as can be. Thank you S&B!