Christmas Day 2011

Evidence that Santa had come during the night!

We told the kids that they couldn't come get us until 7:00 am...and guess what? They did just that. All three of the big kids came in together to get us out of bed (I was already awake with Charlie). They were so excited and they all yelled "Merry Christmas!" They waited patiently at the top of the stairs while I went down to turn on the tree lights and get the cameras ready. Then the fun began:

"Santa came!" (I love Tyler's facial expression.)

Sam got a big box of Legos.

Tyler got a Finn McMissile (from Cars 2).

Lilly got a Rapunzel doll.

Charlie got a Charlie (from the show "Charlie and Lola"). It even giggles when you squeeze his tummy. 

You can't tell by his expression, but Charlie really likes his "Charlie!" He smiles every time he hears that giggle sound!

After the massive amounts of present opening, the kids were kind enough to pose on the stairs for me. 

We enjoyed having some time to play for a bit before we got ready for church. Charlie was his jolly old self just watching his siblings go from one thing to another in a Christmas frenzy!

I love it when Christmas falls on a Sunday. It's so refreshing to go and be at church for an hour and be reminded of what Christmas is really about. Our ward choir did a great job on their performance. I totally got the chills when they sang "O, Holy Night." One of my favorites!

After church we went to my mom and dad's house. Things were pretty low-key this year. My mom had knee replacement surgery just 10 days before Christmas, so she wasn't feeling up to much. We had a nice lunch with Brett's family, my mom/dad, my Aunt Rochelle, Grandpa Rod, Shaunae, and Nick. 

The kids were all quite pleased with the gifts from Grandma and Grandpa. They were very spoiled. Sam was EXTRA excited (as you can see on the look on his face in the picture below) to get a new Geo Trax set! 

(Notice my mom's rockin' walker and compression stockings in the background there. She was such a trooper!!)

Later that afternoon we peeled Matt off the floor (he fell asleep at my mom's house) and went to his parents house for some Cropper festivities! This is the ONLY picture of all of us from Christmas....hey, we tried!

Uncle Mark and Charlie were both rockin' the faux-hawk. Aren't they so handsome together?

Uncle Mark is famous for his baby breakdancing skills. He can really make the babies "shake it." It's quite hilarious to watch!

Lilly was in hog heaven with her new puzzles....oh, and all the extra attention from her cousins, aunts, and uncles. She was a trooper considering she did NOT get a nap that day. 

Sam was also in heaven with his new Geo Puzzle. Grandma Nancy gets him one every Christmas or Birthday. He just loves them. This year's addition was Latin America. This kid is really going to know his geography when the time comes at school!!!

And then there's my Charlie. He was a trooper too. Such a happy guy and looking so cute in his moose overalls. It was a little sad for me to realize that this was my last Christmas with a baby around...but we enjoyed it to the fullest. Isn't Christmas just that much more magical with kids? I just love it!!