Merry Christmas 2012

We had tried to set some wake up limits for the kids on Christmas Eve.  We told them that they couldn't get out of bed until 7:30 a.m. in the hopes that we all might actually get some decent sleep.  Who are we kidding?  You can't tell kids to wait on Christmas morning!  I awoke just after 7:00 a.m. by a nudge from a sweet little ten year old who was begging me to let them go upstairs to see if Santa had come.  'Of course you can!'

Damien and I were exhausted.  We knew we would have to drag ourselves out of bed or we would never forgive ourselves going forward.  Emily was still sleeping so we opted to leave her in her crib and let the big kids go explore their new goodies!  As expected- they were beside themselves when they saw all of the goodies Santa had brought them!  Michael and Claire found their stockings and presents first.  Claire searched through her things and was so happy that she got the digital camera she wanted so badly! 

Michael was in complete shock that Santa had brought him an iPod Shuffle and a camera.  He didn't say much.  Just checked it all out in silence!  Matthew was so happy to have his Mario DS holder and his new DS games.  He ripped right past those and went into this stocking to see what other treasures he got!  Emily was not the happiest of campers when she woke up.  I think she was a little confused that Santa had finally come and brought her toys!  We have talked about it for so long that she really couldn't process that it had actually happened!

Emily got half way up my Mom's staircase before she started crying and needed to be carried the rest of the way.  We walked her over to her new pile of toys.  There was a baby doll, the much-demanded gum, and a photo of her Dora Kitchen which Santa so cleverly took in our living room in San Jose and then brought up to her in Kirkland.  It took some time for her to warm up to it all- but once she did, she was in heaven!!!

Before we opened gifts, I made breakfast for the whole family.  All fourteen of us had all spent the night at my Mom and Dad's on Christmas Eve.   We feasted on cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, and this delicious egg casserole that we have been making for years.  It was yummy!

Opening gifts was really fun.  It is so interesting to see what people get for one another.  This year- everyone was again spoiled with such amazing gifts.  But to be honest and risk sounding cliched- it was be surrounded by so much love, good fortune, and many wonderful people that was the greatest gift of all.

Before we knew it- the speakers were blasting some great music while an impromptu dance party had broken out in the kitchen.  Laura singing karaoke into a wooden spoon, a puzzle on the table which had not yet been completed (maybe because Gina had eaten a piece of it the night before), my Mom talking into her new iPhone and having conversations with Siri, Jill and my Dad enjoying some coffee on the couch, Michael, Claire, and Gina on top of the counter dancing (all true), Gina and Laura wearing Mrs. Bieber and I LOVE Nick buttons on their shirts, Natalie running circles around the kitchen island with a hysterically laughing Emily on her shoulders, Matthew playing his new Sponge Bob fishing game with Damien, while I looked around and thought about how much I love this incredibly amazing madness. 

I hope everyone had the most Merry of Christmases.  We sure did.  Much love to my beautiful family who made me feel so blessed this year.  Merry Christmas Everyone!!