Waking Up Christmas Morning

Before we were married, Brian and I agreed that Santa wouldn't visit our house.  Though I struggled with the decision at first, I'm so thankful we went this route instead.  We buy three gifts for each child in honor of the three gifts Jesus was given after his birth.  This makes Christmas morning much less stressful and much more meaningful in our home. 

For instance, we didn't have to stay up all night putting toys together and wrapping gifts.  We loaded the boys' stockings with what would fit in them, but mostly just laid out the gifts in the floor.  Daniel actually slept until 8:30, and hopefully in the future, he'll know that all the amazing gifts come from Mimi, Pa, and Aunt Ca so we can sleep a little bit later...  doubtful, I know.  Because, much to our surprise our small gifts seemed to be exactly what Daniel wanted!

The boys' stockings and their gifts

Daniel's three gifts:

Puppy Dog Pillow Pet,

Black and Decker took kit,

and a set of pajama sleepers

Samuel's three gifts:

Baby Einstein rattle book,

Baby Brother outfit with jeans,

and a set of pajama sleepers

(and the box is his 1st Christmas Ornament that we did later that day)

Want to know what Daniel went straight after?

The silly Pillow Pet!

I made so much fun of Brian for wanting to get Daniel this...

But, he was absolutely right.

My child loves this thing.

But, he loves his tool kit so much more.

He hammers and screwdrives everything in this house.

Even Samuel has needed some "fixing."

He was so sweet looking at each tool,

and he was doing his best to figure out how to use it.

Samuel woke up a little later...

He had gotten so many little toys the day before that he had no idea what to play with!

He opted for chewing on his fingers.

Christmas Eve at Mimi's

We always have brunch at Mimi's house during the holiday.  This year, we headed to Mimi's on Christmas Eve day (Mimi is Jenna's mom).  The boys are so ridiculously loved (and spoiled) that I don't think either cared too much about the WONDERFUL food...  Daniel was dead-set on going straight for the gifts.

The first thing Daniel noticed was this train bag...

Thankfully, it was for him.

OH WOW, the theme of the day was Thomas the Train.

Here's a Thomas and a Thomas dvd.

A Thomas "Etch-a-Sketch"

Mimi is soooo good.

Thomas and Salty bathtub squirters

Mimi got a cooler, and Daniel thought it was SO COOL!

Samuel got a lot of little toys to chew on, play with, and listen to.

Mimi, Grandpa, and Aunt Ca know just what he likes.

Daniel still excited over the cooler.

Why didn't someone tell his parents that this would be all he'd need for Christmas?!

Thomas pajamas and a "Good Night Thomas" pal

Mommy and Samuel waiting their turns

Lining up all of his trains from Mimi and Aunt Ca

Daniel opened Samuel's new Britax Carseat!

Mimi, let me help you open this gift.

It's from me, my family, and Aunt Ca to you.

See, Mimi, it's that stuff you can climb in and out of!

LUGGAGE for Mimi

Oh, and this is a public service announcement to my husband

(and any other parent who doesn't recognize the problem here):

When opening children's toys, despite the madness of getting them out of their boxes, please keep scissors in a CLOSED position and OUT of the reach of children.

Please and thank you.

But, the best gift of all... 

Had to be the surprise Grandpa left for Daniel in Mimi's garage!

We all got bundled up to spend the next hour in the garage.

Daniel played on his new tractor for almost an hour.

He was so proud of it...

Running into the garage door didn't phase him one bit.

He wore this sweet face for the rest of the day.

He even wanted to ride in the wagon.

And, he was so happy, it melted all of our hearts.

He rode. and rode. and rode. and rode.

He even let Mommy drive him around in the tractor!

We all believed that all of his Thomas things would be forgotten due to the excitement from the green and yellow John Deere.  But, would you believe that the following is what he wanted to do as SOON as we got home? 

Choo-choo!

Lining up all of his trains

(Thank you to Mimi, Aunt Ca, and Anna)

Last but not least, he played in the tub with his new Thomas squirters!

I guess we know what Daniel's favorite gifts were this year!

The Sweetest Gifts...

are usually the first ones they open.

(At least that's what I've learned this year.)

Daniel really enjoyed opening presents this year.  Last year, he was only 8 months old and wasn't very impressed with wrapping or the gifts behind it.  This year, however, was so much fun because with each gift, he just lit up ripping off each piece of wrapping.  When he'd get a glimpse of what he was opening, he would tear into the paper as if he couldn't get it off quick enough. 

The first gift of the season (when he really got the hang of opening) was from a sweet lady from our church.  She was so thoughtful in getting Daniel something he would truly enjoy - something he could "read," played MANY noises, and featured one of his very favorite thing, Cars.

Brian actually placed it under the tree the night he came home from church with it, so that when Daniel woke up the next morning, he could find it there!  He was so excited, wild hair and all.

Ripping off every single tiny piece of paper.

OH, it's "Cars!"

Look how happy he was!

Looking through the book.

Climbing up on the table to get a better view.

And, sweet Sister Nita didn't forget Samuel!  She got him a book as well, one that's perfect for his little hands.

We cannot thank God enough for Sister Nita and others who were so kind to think of our boys this holiday season.  If I began to name them all, it'd take way too long.



Daniel's First Taste of Christmas

Daniel couldn't WAIT to get into these gifts...  This was his first look at all of his gifts from his great-grandfather, Pop, the morning we were to have Christmas with the Honeycutt family.

So, we're a bit late at posting these, but Daniel wanted to share his first Christmas with you...  He had it on the Saturday before Christmas at his Mimi's house with all of the family.  Daniel got so many great gifts, and he got a LOT of love that day...  Here's how it went:

The Johnson snowman family - I made these and one for every member of our family as a centerpiece.

First of all, look how excited he is because of DIAPERS, because every baby needs them!

His very own "Sports Center" from his cousin, Anna Laura.  He LOVED it!

Making his Pop (and everyone else) laugh...

Our family in front of the delicious deserts...

Even Daniel got into the sweets, eating one of the pretzel snowmen.

Falling asleep at the lunch table - Christmas is very tiring!

After his nap, he found out something he loves to do - ride on Daddy's shoulders.

Playing on his Walk 'n Ride from Pop and Gran-Ju

His favorite gift - his choo choo train!

Isn't he just the cutest conductor in his overalls?!

4 Generations - Pop, Mimi, Mommy, and Daniel

Daniel had a great day experiencing Christmas for the first time!  He had many more festivities to come...