Christmas

We had a great surprise Christmas morning when we woke up.  Somehow Santa had managed to move our tree out of our cramped piano room into the living room.  It was such a wonderful thing to be able to do Christmas morning in our living room on our beautiful new floor. 

 

 

Scott and I got a new shop vac and the game Apples to Apples.

Savannah got a new fuzzy blanket and a karaoke machine.

 

Josh got a BSU sweatshirt, a basketball, and some BSU wall decals.

Sara got an art easel and art kit, an activity book, and a bracelet making kit.

Aaron got a soccer ball, baseball mitt, baseballs, and rubber bases.

 

Nate got a football and big wheels.

Owen got the "lello truck" he'd been asking Santa for, and a Mickey Mouse.

Kate got some new clothes and a little ball to play with.

The kids posed for the annual top of the stairs pictures.

And they all headed down the stairs to see what treasures Santa had left for them.

 

 

The excited screams over the new presents from Santa woke Kate up.  (Aaron kept exclaiming, "This is the best Christmas ever!" over and over.)  I went in to find a smiling little girl waiting for me.

I got her dressed and brought her out for her first Christmas morning.

It was time to unwrap the pile of presents under the tree.  All of the kids got new hats, Savannah got my old camera, Josh got a BSU shirt, Sara got an "all about Sara" book that I made filled with pictures of her, Aaron got some under armor shirts, Nate got a green scooter, Owen got a "Woody" shirt, and Kate got clothes.  And everyone got lots of candy.

I saved one present till last.  It was the one I was most excited about.  It was one box addressed to all of the kids.  We let Josh open it.

It took them a few minutes to figure it out.  But then the look of shock registered....

A countdown chain to Disneyland!  (Notice Aaron exploding into a victory jump of joy)

The kids were a little disappointed that we weren't immediately going, but we learned our lesson two years ago.  Christmas is the busiest week of the year.  Remember this?  I sure do!

I have no desire to take 6 kids into that crowd again.  So, I researched the least busy times, and chose the first week of February.  We will be going February 2-8.  We are going to fly there and stay in a beautiful house within walking distance to the park that has a back yard swimming pool.  And we are taking Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen with us!  It's going to be so much fun!  It's going to be just the vacation we need after living through this crazy remodel. 

(I have to give credit to Aunt Kenna for making the darling Mickey Mouse chain.  She knew I had a lot on my plate, and offered to make it for me.  It turned out darling!  Thanks Kenna!)