Today we celebrated the birth of our Savior and the kids were just beside themselves with excitement! The joy and laughter in our house today was just more than I could ever have asked for or imagined! Of course there were the parent moments - 'you are going to sit together for a photo...' - but they forgive easily. :) We had Grandpa Marvin, Nanannette & Grandma for dinner on Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning. We love sharing our major events with family and so wish there were more of us together!! We are very thankful for those we have close though!
Gracie Lin has had a few rough moments of screaming as if she were scared during the night lately and after naps. We are wondering if the stimulation of Christmas is a little too much. She has been happy, happy when we are playing, eating, etc. but there are just a few moments of uncertainty. The boys enthusiasm definitely rubs off on her now and she gets excited although I'm not sure if she knows what they are excited about. Her favorite part of unwrapping gifts was the paper. She has enjoyed playing with the food that came with her little kitchen and with the tea cups.
Carter kind of got it this year and he knew the answer to who's birthday it is. On Christmas Eve John was in tune enough to the kids to hear the ripping of paper in the next room and we ran to find Carter opening one of Grace's gifts. :) He sang Ha-appy Jesus, Ha-appy Jesus before we ate cupcakes. His favorite gift was a basket ball and hoop! He plays it all day long! This past week, he has started talking in longer sentences. We still don't understand a lot of words but he is really starting to be able to communicate - we hope it will help reduce the number of meltdowns starting soon! :)
Parker said to us as we got in the car to drive somewhere - I got enough presents this year for two christmases; I'm just going to ask Santa for one thing next year. It is so amazing to see his heart start to understand the true meaning of Christmas!! In our minds as we prepared, the things we got them didn't seem to be so much but on Christmas morning, it got overwhelming with three kids. We will definitely make changes next year. Parker has loved putting snap circuits together (it's an electronic gadget lab where he can connect circuits to make a light shine or make a doorbell sound, etc.). Christmas Eve, Parker cut out a paper nativity to leave for Santa to see and so that we would have a baby in a manger on Christmas morning. He is amazing with a pair of scissors. :) There is a big paper star hanging above this scene.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
