The Family Room Christmas Morning
Christmas morning was lots of fun. We usually open presents in a nice orderly fashion---we take turns starting with the youngest and working our way to the oldest. I like having everybody watch each other open presents, and I figure it took me a long time to buy and wrap all the presents, so we should make the present un-wrapping last as long as possible. This year, however, was a different story. We started the way we usually do--everyone looks in their stockings, then we have a family prayer and start unwrapping presents. It didn't take long for "order" to go out the window and "chaos" took over! The quints had no concept of taking turns unwrapping presents. All they knew is that suddenly they were allowed to open presents that they had been previously forbidden to even touch. A couple of them, like Kassidy and Rustin, tore into the packages. Some of the others didn't really care about opening---they just wanted to play with whatever was already open. Riley and Kaiya were dying to see what they got, so we quickly gave up on the turn taking (at least with the quints) and just let Riley and Kaiya take turns opening their presents. Jayson and I spent most of our time preventing the babies from unwrapping things they shouldn't and taking toys out of boxes. The way they package toys these days is ridiculous!!! By 9:30, Riley and Kaiya were done unwrapping, Jayson and I hadn't even started, and the quints had about half of theirs unwrapped. We abandoned the presents and decided to have breakfast before continuing. I think by the time we finished everything it was about 11:00 am. It was so entertaining to watch everyone open gifts. Riley usually gets excited about everything he opens---even the boring stuff like clothes. This year Kaiya even showed excitement (more rare for her). Rustin is a lot like Riley and gets really excited about everything. Kassidy wanted to unwrap everything she could get her hands on. Ryder wanted to know how everything worked. Kaydence just wanted to play. Kyndall got on the rocking horse that Mimi and Papa gave them and we had a hard time getting her off---even to eat breakfast.
All the kids waiting at the top of the stairs. They aren't allowed to come down until the appointed time (and until their Mom and Dad have the camera and video camera ready!)
And they're off!
It took the quints a little longer to make it down the stairs.
Kaiya and Riley check out their stockings
The quints spy the rocking horses from Mimi and Papa. They were the highlight of Christmas morning for them.
Kassidy opens her new dolly from Santa
Rustin opens one of the girl's dolls---oops!
Ryder shows off his GeoTrax trains from Santa
Kassidy did most of the unwrapping for the group---she didn't care whose name was on the outside!
Rustin unwraps his GeoTrax
Riley opens his Pogo Stick from Santa
Kaiya with her "laptop"
Riley jumping on the pogo stick, also wearing the new tie he got. If they made a soundtrack of our Christmas morning, it would be a mixture of horse noises (the rocking horses made noises when you press their ears) and Pogo-stick jumping, with a few exclamations of "Awesome" thrown in.
Kaydence happily playing with a new Magnadoodle
Kassidy with the new baby doll bed.
Kyndall decided the baby doll bed was just the right size for her
Ryder and Rustin play with another favorite---the Yo Gabba Gabba boombox
Kyndall checking out an Elmo Doll
Kaiya with her iDog
Christmas breakfast---we always have cinnamon rolls, chocolate milk and little cereal boxes--YUM!
Kassidy, Kyndall, Ryder, Kaydence and Rustin enjoy their little cereals
Kaydence--- In the evening, GG and Ronnie came over and brought the quints trikes! They can't quite reach the pedals, but they are getting pretty good at the "Fred Flintstone" method
Rustin
Traffic Jam
Jayson, Kaiya and Riley play a new Wii game called "Just Dance" (it has definitely become one of our favs!)
Despite the chaos, Christmas was great! I am already looking forward to next year!
Christmas Day
11 comments:
Sounds like a party! I can't imagine....
Love those dancing, singing, gift upwrapping, bike riding, pogo stick jumping Wilkinsons.
I'm exhausted just looking at your Christmas pics, it looks like it was a joyous celebration just as it should be.
Looks like a lot of fun! When I was little my Mom would organize the presents in sections under the tree. Essentially each section would have one kid's presents in it. My older siblings understood where all of their presents were and my parents were able to quickly point to which presents us younger kids could open. Just an idea for next Christmas! I plan to do the same thing when my husband and I have kids!
We got Just Dance, love it, it is so much fun!
Cool article as for me. I'd like to read a bit more about that topic. Thanx for sharing that material.
Joan Stepsen
Pharma technology
Holy moly that looks like a fun Christmas! I loved the sound track analogy, I could almost hear the fun myself.
love it all! the anticipation running down the stairs, rustin opening a doll, cute long pigtails on...(was it Kaydence?)..and gotta get a wii dance game.
I just love that your boys got Geotrax! How are they enjoying them?
My Boaz's Ruth: The kids LOVE the GeoTrax---especially the boys. They start playing with them first thing in the morning and they try to sneak them into bed with them at night!
My 2 year old got Geotrax too. (and a Nilo table to put the track out on). I think he'd play with them more if he had a twin -- or more -- to play with them with :( He'll go over and grab a train here or there but already seems tired of actually running it much along the track.
I am so sad he's an only right now. We're about to pick up the trains and put out blocks or Wedgits for a while. I think a fresh look may help. At least they aren't totally ignored like others of his toys have been!
PS if you do your own taxes (ie by hand and not with a program) -- make sure you deal with Schedule M. We forgot that one and almost left $800 on the table if we had not been reminded!
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