The Best Christmas Ever!

I know we always say that this was "the best Christmas ever" but I really think this one was one for the memory books. There's no way the kids will ever forget this year.....at least they'd sure as heck better not!!!! We told them they weren't allowed to wake us up until 7:00 so at 6:53 they started the traditional ringing of the jingle bells to wake up the adults (Grandma Susan and Grandpa Bill were here to celebrate with us too).  I guess they just couldn't wait a minute (or 7 minutes) longer!  Tyson and I had stayed up late working on Zac and Lexi's presents and he wasn't quite ready to wake up so he told me to tell the kids they had to wait another half hour.  So like good little children they sat on the basement couch and read books together until daddy felt guilty enough to wake up (it was only about 20 minutes!)

We let Drake and Garrett open all their presents first because Zac and Lexi were just getting one big thing and we wanted to draw out the agony a little longer!  Drake really tore in to the unwrapping this year...he was unstoppable!

Garrett had specifically asked for a Lego airplane. He was very happy with this present. Drake and Garrett got big Nerf guns and Lego sets from Mom and Dad (there are no Santa believers in this house anymore) and K-nex sets and an art set from Grandma Susan and Grandpa Bill. Uncle Shay came later that day and gave them an awesome present, but more on that later. And Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Gerry had presents for them that we'll have to get later because they couldn't ship them. Drake also got a lego set from Garrett and Garrett got a Lego Indiana Jones playstation game from Zac.

Zac was a little slower figuring out what he was getting, but I think Lexi caught on pretty quick.  We had them open the covers for their Ipads first.  Tyson then told them that they were getting the cover this year and we'll save up to buy the Ipads next year.  He can't resist teasing just a little!  But then, of course, they opened up their very own Ipad 2s.  Grandma Susan & Grandpa Bill and Uncle Shay all pitched in on that present with us.  We even had Zac and Lexi give us $50 of their own money to help pay for them.  We didn't tell them what they were getting with their money though....we just said that they'd really like it, and I think we were right!

Zac also got a Nerf gun from Lexi. He got a pair of pants and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid journal in his stocking.  He has been trying to earn the Wimpy Kid book for months as a piano reward (for not being a grumpy pants about practicing!) and hadn't quite made it, but I decided he had waited long enough.  We'll have to choose something else for our piano reward! He also got corn nuts in his stocking....this boys LOVES corn nuts! 

Lexi got the book Savvy and a ladybug necklace from Drake.  She also got some warm mittens, hat, and fuzzy socks in her stocking. 

Usually Uncle Shay comes on Christmas Eve and stays the night so he can be here on Christmas morning.  But this year there was a big snow storm so he came over on Christmas Day instead.  He brought a really awesome present for Drake and Garrett.  No wonder they look forward to having Uncle Shay come for Christmas more than Santa!  They were very happy boys!

We spent the rest of the day building Lego sets, dragging Main (okay, just our street!) shooting Nerf guns, painting toenails, playing on Ipads and eating lots of yummy food.  That night we all watched A Christmas Story. It was a very Merry Christmas indeed! 

So from our family to yours we hope you all had the Best Christmas Ever too!  And best wishes for the New Year....better get planning those New Year's Resolutions!