Christmas At Our House

We had a wonderful Christmas celebration today!  As usual, we rose early and opened our stockings.  In years gone by I have been so excited on Christmas Eve that I can't even sleep......but this year sleeping somehow won over excitement. :-)  I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep when David came in our room at 5:10 THISMORNING because he couldn't go back to sleep and was dying to open his stocking!  I was a bit groggy to say the least!   

Anyway.  After we opened our stockings (no a.m. pictures are being disclosed for obvious reasons) we had breakfast, read the Christmas story, and then began our organized gift unwrapping!  And yes, it is very organized.  We open presents one at a time, so it lasts a few hours.  It's nice.

David is posing by a few of the gifts.  He wasn't too thrilled about the one I gave him (a tie) but I told him it was time he learns how to dress up!  Men wear ties so it's about time he learned.  :-)

First present of the day!  Isaac was very excited.

Oh the excitment!!

David got a model plane kit from Dad. 

A Winnie the Pooh figurine set!!  They loved this.  They have been very much into Winnie the Pooh lately so this was right up their alley.

Yup, just what she was hoping for......

....a new purse!  Mom and Dad let us older children kind of pick out what we would like for Christmas ahead of time, because it's harder to surprise us with things we like at this age.  This was one of the gifts Courtney and picked out a few weeks ago.  She's been dying to use it!

Makeup for Mommy!!  The little boys gave this to her.  We were wrapping it a few days ago, and I let them see it because I figured they wouldn't have a clue what it was, thus, they couldn't spoil the surprise by telling.  Boy was I wrong.  As soon as they saw it, Isaac's little voice piped up "makeup!!"  Then Josh chimed in and they were singing it together.  I gave them a stern talking to, and I have to give them credit, they didn't say a word to Mom! 

I got a sweater!!  I was really looking forward to getting this.

A beautiful decorative plaque for Mom and Dad.

More Muscle Milk for Jonathan!! 

Speaking of which.....I realized I have not yet anounced on my blog that Jonathan is planning on joining the Navy in the coming months!  (Hence the new haircut.)  He is shooting for the Navy Seals and is pretty excited about it. 

A new fleece blankie for Jonathan!  :-)  He likes to snuggle fuzzy things (who doesn't) and his old fleece was super worn out. 

It works!

A new bilfold for Dad.

Both Isaac and Joshua got a huge sticker book - hopefully this will keep them very busy and entertained!

I got both of these books......I was really hoping for them!  I can't wait to read them.  I've heard great things about both.

Courtney gave David this shirt- great, isn't it?  He even went jogging in it this afternoon with Dad.

I gave Jonathan God's Gift To Women by Eric Ludy.  I love the Ludy's books!  I even got one for Christmas, shown in one of the previous photos.  :-)

Courtney got me a new journal!  It's really pretty. I have always been the journaling queen so they're a pretty common birthday / Christmas gift.

I can't believe how tall David is getting.  Jonathan began his growing campaign several years ago and I have been dwarfed ever since.........now David is getting close to passing me up.  Both guys are wearing shirts they got as gifts!

Dad gave Courtney and me this incredible gift.....Starbucks hot chocolate.  Mmmmm.

Getting ready for our Christmas feast............

Dad carved the ham - it was so good!!  We normally have a turkey, but this year everyone voted for a ham.

One.  Full. Plate.  Everything was scrumptious!

And that was our day!  Merry Christmas from our family to yours!