christmas morning!

we had a few early birds today.  maddux got up around 5am but went back to sleep in our bed.  i was just falling asleep when madelyn came in to ask if she could color.  sigh.  i guess i am getting up too.  manning was next at 7am and mason joined us around 7:30.  i had a few gifts that were not wrapped, mainly 'recycled' toys for manning that had been in storage.  a few fresh batteries and they were new to him!  i did remove all of the packaging from a lalaloopsie doll for madelyn too. like they say, the early bird gets the worm!

at 8am, once the cinnamon rolls were ready, i decided that it was time for daddy and maddux to get up and join us.  the kids and i read the last page in our veggie tales countdown to christmas book while daddy got his coffee.  and now it was time to get to business!  first were the stockings.

madelyn insisted on this face...

the big boys got puppets on a stick - they loved them in the store and loved them this morning.

matt and i found a duplicate tiara headband for madelyn at an outlet last month.  mason accidentally broke hers a few months ago and i didn't think we would be able to find a replacement.  you might say that she was happy.

her first set of "friends" legos after years of asking.

and then on to the presents.  the kids had so much fun shopping for each other and couldn't wait to give their gifts. there are some great expressions by the onlookers in these pictures too. (madelyn was extra beautiful and photogenic this morning!  i wish i could say the same for myself!)

daniel tiger from mason.

now that madelyn is a reader, we got her a real bible. it was quite an ordeal to figure out which one to buy! i wasn't familiar with most of the translations or they were targeted at teens/tweens. i am very happy with this niv - i think.

manning wrapped these new jammies around him like a scarf and wore them like that for a while.

maddux' dream calculator from manning.

boy lalaloopsies for mason and maddux so that they can play with madelyn.

manning making a 'call' on maddux' calculator/phone.

madelyn got the boys mustaches at her school store.

i thought madelyn hadn't made any christmas items at school and then unwrapped this today.

i took a picture with each kid and what they had bought me, but mason's wasn't great of either of us. mason got me a wristlet wallet/phone carrier and the silver beaded necklace i am wearing. madelyn got me a chocolate candle and a coffee mug she colored. and maddux picked out some fuzzy, knee-high orange socks for me.

manning brought me baby jesus.  thank you for the reminder, manning.

all madelyn wanted.

the local team changed their name and their color - perfect for maddux.

action figures from uncle derek saw a lot of action!

i love the shock on madelyn's face when mason finally got the camera he has been asking for these past two years.

mason had a gift from him to jesus wrapped under the tree.  how sweet (and true) is this?

and we didn't forget a little something for maggie either.

now it was time to move the party downstairs for some serious assembly and play.

we are so blessed this year (like most)! later today we will sing "happy birthday" to jesus and have some chocolate cake with a candle.  what a fun time of year to love on those we care about.  i have posted about some of our small acts this season and will share some more tomorrow (after all the gifts have been given). we want our kids to know the real reason we celebrate and how perfect the gift of Jesus was from God. love.