The last gift of Christmas!

So I saw this great idea on some random blog about giving one last Christmas gift on New Years Day.  Each year this mom wrapped up a calendar (that she got on clearance after Christmas) and thrilled the kids by giving them one last gift to open.  I decided to steal the idea as soon as I saw these calendars at Wal-Mart super cheap this year.  Sadly I was unable to hold on to them till New Years Day and let the kiddos open them about 45 minutes till midnight on New Years Eve.  It kinda worked out perfectly cause it gave us something to do after the Aggie game was over and people were starting to melt down!

Noah loved his bucks!

And Wyatt is thrilled with his wolves.

And Annie can't stop oohing and aaahing over the cute baby cats!!

It was so nice to have Joshua home this year for New Years!  We had our annual "bean feast" with my parents, did fireworks,  watched the Aggie bowl game, played a few rounds of Hedbanz and Sleeping Queens, and the kids ate as much puppy chow as they could!  They were incredibly hyped up by the time midnight hit!

 We ran outside at midnight and watched all the explosions filling the sky together for the first time since the kids have been born!  Such fun!!!  And I loved giving calendars cause it makes me think of the calendar I got each year from my Grandma.  I couldn't tell you a single other thing they she ever bought me for Christmas, but I looked so forward to seeing the teddy bear calendar she got me each year.  Can't wait to see what kinds of calendars I can pick each kiddo next year!

Christmas night!

Since Josh had the whole day off we were able to go to Granny's house for dinner on Christmas night.  It was so nice!  The kids had tons of fun opening up gifts and playing!

 Annie really loved her microphone - it might be her favorite gift from Christmas.  She uses it all day long!  She loves to sing along with Pinky Pie!

She also adores her new fancy jewelry box!  She carries it around at some point every single day!

We had a great time and the kids were thrilled with their toys!  It was a nice, quiet, relaxing end to Christmas for us!  So thankful for such a nice night!

Christmas morning!

Josh was actually home with us for Christmas morning this year!!  The kids usually have to wait around till Josh arrives to start opening up stuff but this year we were all just able to roll out of bed!  What a blessing!!  Christmas like its supposed to be!  Each kid got 2 gifts from Santa and a few from Josh and I. 

Santa got each boy a nerf gun, and the boys gave Josh a nerf gun. Can you tell they love it?  Wyatt also received a slot car set from Santa, Noah got some army gear, and Annie got a dollhouse.  They were all so, so happy!

Lots more gifts, stocking stuffers, and fun!

The big gift for this year was a basketball goal!  They were so surprised!

We had cinnamon rolls with fresh squeezed OJ (courtesy of HEB!) and spent the whole day in our jammies playing.

Annie got out her playmobile gift from my parents and played with that little unicorn for over an hour!  I have no idea why she was so in love with it.  We went outside and she ran around in circles with it pretending it was galloping.  She is such a girl!!

And I just had to share this pic of Josh.  Jammie pants, tennis shoes, hoodie.  Enough said!!!  :)

Such a great Christmas!  I know so many people look down upon those that give more than two or three gifts to each of their kids, but I'm not ashamed to say I love it!  Yes, I love buying my kids Christmas gifts.  I have no problem with it.  We  never, never buy the kids toys throughout the year.  Never.  It is so fun to pick out their favorite things and wrap them all up.  I love it!   Looking forward to next year already since Josh should be home again!  Yay!

Christmas jammies (sort of)!

I adore the Christmas jammies tradition!  We didn't do anything like that in my family growing up but I knew for sure it was a tradition I would start with my own family.  Its super fun cause they get to come home from my parents on Christmas Eve and have one more present to open before bed.  Last year I sewed their jammies but this year I just ran out of time.  I searched everywhere (everywhere!!!) for some Christmas themed jammies that weren't too hot and were available in their sizes.  There were NONE.  And this was Thanksgiving that I looked on.  Thanksgiving, folks!!  I was a little outraged.  Well, until I found this little gems.  Not my style, but definitely the boys style!!  A buck, ya'll!!  Nothing says Christmas like a buck on your jammies!

The kids left Santa some milk and cookies and then we went out into the yard to sprinkle some reindeer food to make sure they would stop by our house!

And then off to bed!!  It was nearly 11:00 by this point and we knew they would be up early the next day.  I really enjoyed Josh being home to help me put out all the gifts.  It was fun to have somebody to get everything ready with!