Thursday, December 26, 2019

What's It Gonna Be Santa?!? (Christmas With the Home Crew)

I'm sure I've written about this on here before, but when I was growing up we were never home for Christmas. We lived several hours away from both sets of my grandparents, so we typically woke up at one of their houses on Christmas Day. After my older brothers moved out on their own, there were several Christmases that we woke up at their houses. My kids have pretty much had the same experience of never waking up at their own house on Christmas. 

Until this year, that is. 

My parents moved to town this past March, and because of that our holiday season looked different than it ever has before. I'm pretty sure that Chris and I have never spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas at home in the same year, but that is exactly what happened this year!

Knowing that we were going to be home for Christmas has us considering different options for how we would handle it with our kids. We thought about giving our kids the more traditional experience of waking up at our house on Christmas Day and doing our whole gift exchange at that time, but I didn't want anything to be rushed. I really wanted the whole day to open gifts, play, spend time with one another, eat our traditional meals, and not have to worry about going anywhere. Because of this, we decided to have our "home crew" Christmas celebration on December 24th. This would allow us to take all the time we wanted and still be able to go to my parents' house for Christmas Day and spend time with them.  

Our routine with celebrating Christmas at home has always been to get up, eat breakfast, then exchange gifts. Last year, the kids' school had a fundraiser during the holidays where they sold food from a local Amish bakery. We purchased delicious cinnamon rolls to have for breakfast on the morning we celebrated Christmas, and we decided to make that a tradition. Well, we weren't able to purchase cinnamon rolls from the Amish bakery this year, but we did buy some from Sam's Club. Yes, Sam's Club, haha! And they were absolutely scrumptious!!!

Before breakfast, I had started food for lunch, so as soon as we got breakfast cleaned up it was time to exchange gifts. My kids know they have to give me a few good photos of them with their *unwrapped* presents before we begin :-).

Brianna, Brenson, Brecklyn, and Brooke

I cherish this time with my family so much!

If you think it looks like my kids received a lot of gifts this year, you are not wrong! I started buying for Christmas in the summer, and I got a ton of great deals. Christmas is typically the only time they received toys throughout the year, so the past few years we've gone pretty big with it. 

We always begin with stockings . . . 

Brianna has always been so fun to give gifts to because she has BIG reactions. I hope she never outgrows this!

Brooke, Brenson

Brecklyn

When we exchange gifts, we always take our sweet time with it. This year, the kids all received a set of stinky scented markers in their stockings. I found them clearanced and just couldn't pass them up, haha. Well, as soon as they opened them, we realized why they were clearanced . . . they smelled AWFUL! We took the time to pass them around one by one and smell them, and I actually gagged at one of them. They are that bad!

After stockings, Daddy is the first one to open gifts. Each of the children take turns giving him what they picked out for him. 

Daddy and Brecklyn

Brooke and Daddy

Brenson and Daddy

Brianna and Daddy

Then, the children all give me a gift.

Bren and Momma

Brooke and Momma

Brecklyn and Momma

Bri was being kinda stinky about sitting on my lap so I made a face at her, heehee.

Much better!

After the children gift us with the things they picked out for us, we have them give each other gifts. We try to keep their gifts to each other at around five dollars apiece, but they still get SO excited about these little gifts. 

Brecklyn and Brooke were so happy when they opened Calico Critters from Brianna!

Hugs for big sis!

It was so sweet!

Bren was also excited about his gift from Bri. She did good this year!

Brenson gifted all the girls dresses for their dolls. Brooke's face is gold!

Dogpile on brother!!!

We love having the kids all give gifts to us and each other before opening their "big" things. We always want to foster a spirit of generosity and gratitude, and we feel that this is a great way to do that.

For the twins' big gift this year, I purchased a baby changing station. We had actually had it since October (because dealzzzz), and they played with this exact one at a toy store we went to one day. After playing with it, they both said they would love to have it for Christmas. I was thankful they liked it because I had already purchased it! It required assembly, so Brianna, Brenson, and Daddy put it together a few nights prior to this. It worked out perfectly because everyone was invested in seeing them open and enjoy their gift. 

They loved it and had to immediately start playing with it!

Love these smiles!

Brianna and Brenson both got a Fitbit watch as their big gift. They were both very excited, although you can't tell so much in this photo.

Brooke and Brecklyn's Pre-K teacher and classroom aide had sent them both home with a gift on the last day of school before the break. We saved those packages and let them open them during this time. The girls were just thrilled to have gifts from their teachers!

For a little while, we have the kids open one gift at a time. We really drag out the process, but we like to enjoy it!

Bren wanted a new Nerf gun so badly, and he got one!


So happy!

Brecklyn and Brooke wanted a Calico Critter house. Just look at their faces!


Brianna had been asking for a hair straightening brush for some months, so she was super happy when she opened one!


After everyone opens a few gifts one-by-one, we let them just tear into the rest of their packages. They call it "free for all", haha!

Brecklyn and Brooke with a world countries and flags puzzle

Brianna with a Full House DVD set

Bren had to read his new LEGO book right then!

Bren with a new jacket and a little robot

Bri received several Polly Pocket sets that she was thrilled about!

Cute girls in cute new jackets!

After nearly TWO full hours, we finally completed the gift opening! Like I said, we like it to be a process and to enjoy ourselves!

Of course, once the gift opening is over, the kids know they get to take a photo in the wrappings. It's tradition!

Brecklyn, Brianna, Brenson, and Brooke

And then comes what is probably their FAVORITE thing of all . . . playing in the wrapping!!! 

Things tend to get pretty wild as everyone is throwing wrapping paper, bows, and boxes all around. This year, Brianna somehow lost a tiny Polly Pocket dog in all this mess. She was upset, and although we stopped to look for it, I figured it was probably a lost cause. After looking for about five minutes, we let the kids resume throwing the trash and wrapping all around. Suddenly, Bren shouted, "Stop! Stop!" because he felt the tiny dog toy hit his head. I thought he was crazy, but sure enough he found that silly little dog and made Brianna's day!

Favorites 💓

After we let the kids go wild with the trash, we picked it all up so they could play with and enjoy some of their new things. While they did that, Chris and I fixed our traditional lunch of mashed potatoes, roast gravy, corn, rolls, and salad. 

Yummmmm!

We all enjoyed our delicious lunch, then Chris and the kids continued playing with new things while I cleaned everything up. Notice that the kids put on fresh pjs for their day of play :-).

There were so many things to open and set up. These kids should never be bored!

I even joined in on the play time!

I love this smile . . . she was feeling very accomplished after assembling her new LEGO set. 

After a full afternoon of relaxation and play, I invited my parents over for the evening. We had finger foods, played a few games, put a puzzle together, and just enjoyed one another's company. It's SO nice to have them close enough to enjoy each other for a few hours!

I put a TON of work into preparing for days like this, but it's always so worth it. The magic of the holiday through the eyes of my little ones is such a precious gift to me!!!

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