After getting out of bed, Ron and I went downstairs to turn on the Christmas lights and the music while the children waited impatiently at the top of the stairs. When we were ready, they came running down to find their couches full of goodies from Santa. Much screaming and jumping took place for the next minute or so while they got their first looks at their loot. We then let the kids play with their Santa gifts while we made our traditional, Christmas breakfast. After breakfast in the dining room, we returned back to the living room to open all of our gifts under the tree. It is always so rewarding to watch the children's reactions as they open their gifts. So many hours and hours of work goes into making Christmas possible and it is always so worth it when I get to see how excited our children are when they find out what is inside all of those pretty packages that have been sitting under the tree for several days. We then had just enough time to change out of our pajamas and get the living room picked up before we were treated to a visit from grandma and grandpa. They came to visit us this year for lunch and to deliver their presents. This always helps the day feel even more special.
After their visit, we all get dressed in our snow gear and headed outside to play in the snow. We spent about an hour in the backyard sliding down the slide on the sled, throwing snowballs, and building a snowman. Although I was totally tired and really just wanted to take a nap, I was grateful for the chance to play in the snow on Christmas afternoon with Ron and the kids as I might never have the opportunity to do this on Christmas ever again! After coming back inside, we settled in to watch the new Beauty and the Beast DVD that grandma gave Lia for Christmas. About half way through the movie, I got up to start preparing our traditional, Filipino dinner that I make every year for Christmas dinner. We sat down to eat after the movie had ended to dine on sinigang, adobo, rice, and lumpia with sparkling cider. We enjoyed a quiet dinner together before finishing off the evening by giving the kids a big, group gift--a trip to Disneyland. It really was a wonderful, white Christmas!
Lia's Santa couch before she came downstairs. Besides receiving three nightgowns, all of her Santa gifts came from the collection of the American Girl Doll, Kanani, who was the Girl of the Year in 2011. Lia fell in love with this doll after seeing multiple videos of her on youtube years ago and has wanted her ever since. But since this doll has been retired for years, her collection is only available through Craig's List and ebay and costs a lot of money. I spent about two years buying and flipping multiple Kanani collections from Craig's List to allow me to acquire the majority of this collection for free. This was truly a labor of love!
Logan's corner of his Santa couch. The big hit was the mega, Lego set and the magnetic tiles that he discovered this year in his classroom.
Ella's corner of her Santa couch including a miniature dollhouse that was her "big gift" for Christmas this year.
Logan jumping up and down and screaming after picking up his box of magnetic tiles.
Although this picture came out blurry, I had to include it as it shows how happy Lia was when she discovered Kanani sitting on her couch! Look at that screaming face!
Ella immediately began playing with her new dollhouse. Although it came with a few pieces of furniture, I filled it with little, princess dolls and furniture that we already owned.
Ella has recently fallen in love with the Pinkalicious series, but we do not have all of the big, hardback book from the collection. So she got the Emeraldalicious and Silverlicious books this year and wanted to read them right away!
We did something different this year and let all of the kids pick one gift under the tree to open before breakfast. Here is Lia opening up the 7th Harry Potter DVD.
Logan immediately decided to open the gift from Aunt Austin and Uncle Robbie. He was so thrilled to find a giant bin of Lincoln Logs inside. Besides magnetic tiles, this is the other building toy he has discovered this year in his classroom that he absolutely loves! He was so excited to receive this gift.
Ella opening up her first gift of the morning--a set of Fancy Nancy books.
While we made breakfast, the kids had the chance to play with their new toys. Here is Ella playing in her dollhouse.
Logan building his first structure with his new set of magnetic tiles.
Lia wanted to immediately take Kanani upstairs to play with her in the mega dollhouse.
The kids and Ron sitting down to our Christmas breakfast of eggs, bacon, and a homemade bread ring.
Our pajama clad kiddos back in the living room after breakfast waiting to start opening all of the gifts under the tree.
Logan showing off his new pirate set to go with his ever growing collection.
Ella coloring her Moana book from Aunt Renee and Uncle Derek.
Lia opening up the Kanani paddle board set from Aunt Austin and Uncle Robbie.
A picture of our beautiful, white backyard before we played in it.
Grandma, Grandpa, the kids, and me before saying 'goodbye' to them after their visit.
Let the snow games begin! The kids all dressed and ready to play in the snow.
Logan making a snow angel on the sport's court.
Cute Ella doing the same.
And Lia, too!
Ella attempting to throw a giant snowball at Ron.
Logan chasing after Lia with a snowball. This is always one of the kids' favorite activities in the snow until someone gets hurt and starts crying.
The kiddos and me.
Lia and I going at it with the snowballs, too.
A picture of the snowman we built as a joint effort.
After dinner, we finished off the evening by giving the kids two group gifts that they opened together. The first one was a combo whiteboard/chalkboard on a large easel with a large pack of dry erase markers to use on it. The second one was a trip to Disneyland! For the second year in a row, Lia and Ron have the same Spring Break. As a result, I decided that we needed to go on a trip again! Since it will be three years this coming February since Logan and Ella have been to Disneyland, Ron and I decided that it was high time to bring them back--especially since Logan has fallen in love with all things Star Wars and pirates and Ella has fallen in love with all things princesses. I had the kids open up a large box full of red and white tissue paper. Inside they found a pair of Mickey ears for each of them to wear (Ariel ears for Lia, Star Wars ears for Logan, and Minnie ears for Ella) and a bunch of Mickey shaped pieces of red, white, and black paper with letters on them.
Logan and Lia immediately began figuring out this "puzzle" by putting all of the letters in order to spell out a sentence. I was surprised with how fast they did it. The mickey shaped letters spelled out the sentence, "You are going to Disneyland."
This is the scene that followed. Much jumping and screaming and overall freaking out! I just love the look on Logan's face.
Our cute kiddos with their Mickey ears on sitting around the message they just spelled out! It was a great way to end a wonderful, white Christmas!
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