Christmas 2013

Our Christmas began with Evan coming into our room to wake us up and then we all headed into the living room to see what Santa had brought.   Evan didn't understand it was Christmas morning yet this year before we brought him to see the stockings.  And honestly, I think he woke up on the wrong side of bed because after the initial excitement of seeing what Santa had set out for him, he wasn't very interested in opening gifts or seeing what was in his stocking!  However, once we emptied his stocking and he found candy, he wanted it right away.  We let him indulge in one piece, because it was a special day after all.  Yet, I think that early morning sugar rush only aided his grumpiness throughout the morning (that and all he seemed to want from there on out was more candy!).  Nonetheless, he did open his presents and enjoy all of the things he got.

First sights on Christmas morning

A new Thomas train among his gifts from Santa

Learning to lace (left) and practicing his new (ukulele) guitar (right).

Very cool new spinning top from Nana.

Checking out all his new books.

Playing with his remote control airplane...back and forth around the floor.

Emma started out her first Christmas by having lots of photos taken of her!  I had put her in the same "My 1st Christmas" onesie that Evan wore two years ago, along with her new holiday (candy cane) skirt from Aunt Linda and a new personalized Santa hat from Nana.  Evan even joined in for some of them too.

Then she had some help opening her gifts, we skyped with John's Nan and Grampy and then John's dad, and we all took a family photo by the Christmas tree.  However, during the skype call Emma had a lovely blow out diaper, which meant she soiled her cute Christmas outfit.  In the end, she needed a cooler outfit to wear anyway given it was a typical hot summery Aussie Christmas day.  Evan ended up having two swims (one before and one after lunch) and no nap so he was a bit of a terror by evening.  We ended the day with a quick visit to Mary and Russell's house and another skype chat with John's extended family.

Check out Emma's cute Santa shoes that she got from Auntie Sarah!

All of us having a Christmas day dip in the pool (Emma too!)

Chilling out after swimming (Emma snuggled on daddy's lap and Evan snuggled with his cousin Eva)

One of the highlights of my Christmas day, besides it being Emma's first Christmas, was that Emma laughed for the first time.  The first time was in the morning when she was "talking" to Janine.  During that "conversation" she was making little beginnings of a laugh.  Then at her bedtime change I was tickling her thighs and talking to her and she gave me some good giggles.  It was the cutest sound!

All said, it was a lovely Christmas with family.  And I feel more fortunate than ever to have been able to enjoy the holiday as we did.  I have two healthy kids, a loving husband, and great in-laws to have spent it with.  This is a true blessing and I could not be more thankful.  It really is the greatest gift of any that could have been unwrapped.