December: Present Time

Yay for present time! Every year I go a little crazy ... I try really hard not to, though. So that must count for something, right??

We always did gifts as children. One memory holds strong in my mind - when I was around 8 or 9 (?) my parents told us (me and my sisters) it was bed time. My dad took us to the bathroom to help us brush our teeth. I remember being upset for two reasons: first, it was much too early to go to bed; second, I left the bathroom while brushing my teeth and got told, rather sternly, that I had to stay in the bathroom. After our teeth had been brushed, my mom came upstairs and mentioned that the playroom was a mess, despite the fact that she had told us to clean it up. We were adament that this was not the case - we had cleaned up. Nevertheless, we went downstairs to check it out ... to find a huge pile (and in my mind it is a huge pile) of presents, newly appeared. It was an evening of fun after that :) 

I tried to recreate this memory with my children this year ... Greg went downstairs with them to play while I quickly moved all the gifts under the tree and filled the stockings. I then joined them downstairs for some other present-opening fun. That day we had taken them shopping to buy gifts for eachother. When we got home they wrapped the gift they had bought and hid it in their bedroom. When I went downstairs they took turns finding their present and opening it -- so much fun and excitement! And it turns out they did pretty good at buying eachother gifts :) 

After that fun, I told them to go upstairs and finish cleaning up ... they went upstairs to find some presents under the tree. And the present opening fun began :) 

We have true Frozen fever around here ... I spent a few nights crocheting this Elsa hat for Maddy. It is the first time I've ever really made a gift.  

Kiera loves dolls, so I complied :) Sophia the First. She calls her Baby Sophia. 

 Seth has been asking for playmobil dragons for a while. I balked a little because I'm not a big dragon / fighting person - but my dear husband said, "It's a boy thing". How could I argue?

Like I said, Frozen fever. Anna (a much cuter Anna than the one in the movie, if I do say so myself!!) This is Anna walking away saying, "Okay, fine" in a very downcast way. 

A cuddly blanket for Seth - his room is typically freezing. Kiera saw this blanket and was very jealous - she loves "bankies". Of course, when she opened her own new blanket next she was over her jealousy. Her new blanket actually replaced her real blankie for a bit! 

Once again, Frozen fever. These barbies have been played with every day since they were received. She also had a Frozen soundtrack in her stocking, which is played all day every day. These barbies act out the songs ... over and over and over :) 

I love watching my kiddos open and love their gifts. I also had a wonderful evening - my ever loving husband got me a Kitchenaid Mixer. The good one. I (and perhaps he??) have dreams of breadmaking ... it hasn't happened yet, unfortunately. Sadly, the first time it was used was to make a from-the-box cake (for Greg's birthday). Hardly Kitchenaid Mixer material, but it was still exciting for me!!