Christmas Morning at the Doll House

Christmas was absolutely fun this year (actually every year is fun ... but we REALLY enjoyed this Christmas). We put a lot of thought into our gifts for the kids this year and we could tell by their reactions Christmas morning that they were happy. The toughest part about the morning was trying to get everyone to stand still in front of the tree and take this picture before opening presents.

Joshua and Elyssa must have been extra good this year ... Santa brought them exactly what they wanted: a Transformer and a Barbie. It was fun to see the twins get into Christmas this year. One evening during dinner we were asking the twins what they wanted for Christmas and they said a Transformer and Barbie. We asked Elyssa if she had told Santa at the Ward Party that she wanted a Barbie for Christmas ... you could tell she was thinking for a few seconds and then said ... "We need to go back to church" ... so she could find Santa and tell him. We let her know that Mommy and Daddy had already told Santa what she wanted.

Kella was given a balloon art kit by one of her grandparents and immediately started creating dogs and giraffes. FUN!!!

Amy also made David and Kella fleece balnkets. They are super soft and warm AND they have slept with them every night.

One of little Lyssie's gifts was a ballerina outfit and ballerina shoes. She is such a little princess and acts every bit like one.

Lyssie also LOVES clothes ... top a new Sunday dress off with a microphone that amplifies and records her voice and you have a little girl in heaven.

Joshua was the perfect little dude opening presents. He loved tearing the paper off, but also spent a lot of time playing with all of his toys. The blocks were a big hit with him ... just like Lyssie is all girl, he's all boy and likes blocks and trucks and planes.

When we were in Utah this past October Kella got into painting her fingernails with designs with Amy and Grandma Mindy. This gave Amy and I the idea to buy her tons of nail polish, a book that shows different designs and some tools to make it easier to make designs on her fingernails. She couldn't wait to paint her nails ... and Lyssie's nails ... and then their toes.

The best part about Christmas is making a mess all over the living room with all the boxes and wrapping paper ... and then making the kids clean it up (just kidding ... we all cleaned up together).

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!