Christmas 2008--Part 2

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning the babies woke bright and early at 6:15 am. Riley and Kaiya had been fretting for weeks about what would happen on Christmas morning. They were so worried that the babies would try to unwrap all the presents. Riley must have come up with at least 10 different ideas of what we could do to prevent the babies from “ruining” everything. In the end, all that worrying was for nothing! Although they were to young to really “get” what was going on, the babies were so excited about everything. My parents got them a kitchen set and that was the first thing they noticed. They ran right over and started checking it out. They were pretty oblivious to all the wrapped gifts that Santa had left. In the beginning, we tried to get the babies to open a few gifts. Once we started tearing the paper, they enjoyed ripping the rest off. But once they had a few things open, they were not interested in opening more. They were content to play with the paper, bows and boxes strewn about the room.

Riley and Kaiya, on the other hand, were a different story. I’ve decided that everyone needs a child like Riley on Christmas morning. He is a great present opener. He gets so excited about everything he opens---even the clothes! He even got excited about things other people were opening. My mother gave me a laminator, and when I opened it Riley exclaimed, “Oh WOW! You got a LAMINATOR!!! That is SO COOL! You have been wanting a laminator!”

Riley and Kaiya waiting until they were allowed to come downstairs

Kyndall, Rustin and Kaydence check out the kitchen

Kaydence, Riley, Rustin and Kaiya look in the stockings.

Riley and Kaydence

Riley

Kaiya

Kassidy

Kaydence

Rustin

Kyndall--Each of the babies got a new (or at least new to us) Wiggles DVD for Christmas

Ryder

Riley and Kaiya both got new Rollerblades for Chrismas

Kaiya

Modeling my new coat

Kassidy and Rustin open their present from Riley and Kaiya---five big bouncy balls

One of the favorite Christmas gifts---a Wii from Jayson's parents

Kyndall and Kaiya

Kaydence, Kassidy and Rustin check out the Rock and Play Piano Santa brought

Once the presents were open, it was time for our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of cinnamon rolls and little boxes of cereal.

Kaiya, Jayson and Riley

Since the babies went to sleep before we took pictures, we attempted to take some jammie pictures with them on Christmas Day. The boys were a little more cooperative than the girls!

Ryder, Riley and Rustin

Kyndall, Kassidy, Kaiya, and Kaydence

In the afternoon, Virginia and Ron came over and brought the babies five "push" toys: a popcorn popper, music roller, grocery cart, lawn mower and vacuum cleaner. They were a big hit!

Rustin and Ron

Kassidy, Kaydence, Ryder, Kyndall (and Rustin almost covered in the back)

Kyndall didn't care much for pushing the toys, but she did insist to get IN the shopping cart

Ryder almost immediatly became attached to the vacuum cleaner. I don't think it left his hands for three days--except at bedtime when we had to pry his fingers off of it. I had to change all his diapers on the floor so he could continue to hold it.

All in all, I have to say it was one of the best Christmases ever. Even though I never thought I wanted such a big family, I am so glad that things turned out the way that they did. My family is the most important thing to me, and they bring me such joy and happiness.

Christmas 2008--Part 2