Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!  We had a quiet Christmas at home this year.  On Christmas Eve, the kids fed the reindeer and then put out cookies and cocoa for Santa.

After the Christmas Eve service at church, the kids got to open one present and it was a new pair of PJs.  They were excited to wear them to bed that night!  :)

 There they are in their new jammies, with Santa's treats behind them.  As you can see by their faces, they couldn't wait to go to bed and wake up to Christmas morning!  :)

 Stockings are full and gifts from Santa are set out -- now Mom & Dad can rest for the evening!  :)

 Emily got a lap-desk and new sketching supplies from Santa.  And Santa brought Alex a guitar that can also turn into a drum set and a keyboard.  They were both over the moon!  Santa knew exactly what they would like!  :)

 Emily couldn't believe that Santa knew she wanted some new belts.  Her joy was so sweet!

 Alex and Emily both got large packs of gum in their stockings.  You would have thought it was gold, the way they were excited!  :)

 How CUTE is he with that guitar?!?!?!

 Aunt Judy sent personalized placemats for the kids.  They haven't eaten a meal without them since and are really loving the puzzles on the back!  Amazingly enough, they're actually eating their meals without being too distracted!  Thanks, Judy!  :)

 Aunt Katie sent presents from her trip to Peru this summer.  Emily got a beautiful bracelet and Alex got a blow gun.  I wasn't sure about the gun, but Alex LOVES it and hasn't shot anyone yet!  He even took it to bed with him the other night.  Nicely done, Aunt Katie!  :)

 Aunt Christie got Alex a pillowcase he can draw on and Emily got a friendship bracelet kit.  They were both so excited they wanted to rip them open and start them immediately!  We love you, Aunt Christie!!  :)

 Alex got walkie-talkies and Emily a new outfit for Eva from Aunt Tracie.  The kids were so cute talking on the walkie-talkies in the same room and not quite understanding that they could go to the opposite corners and communicate.  Oh well, it will sink in eventually!  :)

 I figured we had to throw in a few pictures of Nelson and me too (although it's more fun to see the kids, I'm sure).  So, here you can see that I got jewelry and a headband from Christie and a new knitting book from Tracie.  Thanks, guys!  :)

 This year Nelson started a new tradition with the kids.  They each received a tool box and a set of screwdrivers and a tape measure.  And each year from now they will get a new tool to add to the box.  My dad did this with Tracie and me and it was a blast!

 Aunt Sharilyn made us beautiful felt birds -- the kids were flying them around the family room.  A beautiful decoration that turned into a fun toy!  Who would have thought?!  :)

 Aunt Jill and Uncle Nathan sent the kids an aqua-doodle book and a fashion/accessory sticker book.  It must be the age of the kids or the perfectly geared toys they received, but they wanted to play with everything as soon as they opened it!  :)

 And Aunt Judy did it again with two amazing new books for the kids!  Emily's was a Bible activity book and Alex's was a book about airplanes with a kit to make a half dozen different model planes.  Emily finished her book on Christmas Day (she did nothing else) and Alex already made one plane and has been flying it ever since.  Judy, you are amazing!  I have to know where you find these great books!!  We love you!!  :)

 Alex made us some gifts at school -- a Christmas tree picture made from hand prints and an ornament with his hand print that was then turned into five adorable little snowmen!  I love those little gifts!  :)

 Emily got Nelson a new Wii game and we've been playing it ever since!  It's been so much fun!  :)

 Aren't they adorable?!

 The kids went to my favorite yarn shop (also the one I happen to teach at) and got me some yarn that I have dreamed about for a while.  They knew exactly what to get me!  :)

 Nana & Papa Willis went to China in this Fall and picked up a few Christmas presents for us.  Alex got a kite, Emily a beautiful embroidered bag, Nelson a tie and I got 3 new purses and a pashmina.  Thank you so much, Mom and Dad!  We love them!  :)

 Alex bought Nelson a new set of cuff links.  Alex and I came home from shopping for them and he was just bursting at the seams to tell Nelson what he had bought.  This is how the conversation went:
Alex:  Daddy, guess what I bought?
Nelson:  Don't tell me, buddy.  It will ruin the surprise.
Alex:  I won't tell you what it is, Daddy.  I just want to give you a clue.
Nelson:  No, don't tell me.  It still might ruin the surprise.
Alex:  No, it won't.  It's those things you put on your sleeves.  I won't tell you what they look like.

What a silly boy!!  :)

 Emily and Alex played Jenga when we were at Uncle Stephen's & Aunt Ellen's.  So, when Emily had to pick out a gift for Alex it was an obvious one for her.  He was quite happy!  :)

 And Alex bought Emily Blokus.  It's been a fun game to have and the kids have played it every day!  :)

 Nana & Papa Willis got the kids these craft & science experiments too.  Alex's was a Cars sand kit and Emily's is a bubblegum making kit.  The cars are filled and the gum is just waiting to be made!  :)

 Alex was super-insistent that Nelson get new cuff links for Christmas.  So, in addition to the links he got him he also got him a new french-cuff shirt with a tie.  He was so excited for Nelson to open them he was almost shaking!!  :)

 Nelson got a glass decorative thermometer from Mom & Dad Willis for his desk at work.  He loves it and can't wait to take it to work with him!

 We got Alexander a "Where's Waldo" book and Emily a set of 7 Fairy books.  We've already read half of the books and she can't wait to read the rest of them!  She was absolutely giddy that one of the fairies was "Emily the Emerald Fairy" -- which happens to be her birthstone too.  She was so excited!!  :)

 We got each of the kids a docking station alarm clock.  They were overjoyed that it came with a bed-shaker to wake them up.  I think that was the highlight of the whole thing!  Goofy-kids!

 Emily got a pink Wii remote.  She said she had always dreamed of having a pink one, but had no idea they made them in colors!  What a silly girl!  :)

 We buy a family gift every year and this year it was another Wii game.  The kids are having a hard time learning how to do the Carnival games, but they're getting better.  It's pretty fun so far!  :)

 And to go with the new docking station, we bought Alex his very own iPod.  He had been using ours for a few months and I was getting tired of sharing.  He couldn't believe he got his "very own" and he's been carrying it everywhere with him!  :)

 And we bought Emily a bean bag for her room.  She loves it so much that she's slept on it for the last few nights.  We had no idea it was large enough for her to sleep on, but she's loving the fact that she has "two beds now"!  :)