Christmas Day 2022

I actually got up early on Christmas morning and showered and did my hair and makeup (such as it is).  So I was just sitting in bed waiting when the kids knocked on our door at 7am.  We turned on Christmas lights and let the kids come down the stairs to see if Santa had come:

And then we let the kids open their stockings, which had a few presents (including socks, which each kid was very excited about) and a lot of candy.  Craig got his cinnamon rolls in the oven and once the kids had gotten dressed for church, we enjoyed those immensely.  And then it was time to go to church!  

Since it was about 20 degrees outside, naturally the heat had stopped working (again).  We at least knew this and brought blankets and coats and were properly bundled up.  Poor Adam was shivering and then had to play piano and it was so cold THE KEYS WERE STICKING.  A couple women were playing a flute duet, and they spent the entire time blowing air through their flutes trying to keep them warm and in tune.  So ridiculous.  For all his natural Christmas cheer, Craig was furious.  He's been fighting for three years now to get our HVAC replaced, and as soon as the weather gets more moderate, they claim it's working, but as soon as it's either really hot or really cold, nothing works.  Ugh!

After a quick, one-hour meeting, we hurried home and put our jammies back on and got to WORK opening all those Christmas presents!  😂 The kids were really great and took turns.  They were gracious about everything they got, and they tried to encourage each other to open so they wouldn't burn through their gifts before everyone else.  They were great.  It took us so long to open everything that we had to take a break while Craig got the turkey in the oven.

This is an axolotl onesie 😆

This was one of the big ones: Bentley got his driver's license!!!  We'd managed to get it all done ahead of time without telling him so it was valid on Christmas Day-- how exciting!

Their final present was very tiny and was for everyone and once they opened it, they found a clue.  So we had them running around the house on a treasure hunt.  

I think they ran to our room, then to the basement, then out to Craig's truck, and then back to the basement where they finally discovered an enormous present in the guest room.  They ripped off the wrapping paper and Ryder began literally screaming with joy: they'd gotten an air hockey table!  There was much excitement and rejoicing!  

The next day Craig made the kids put it together.  This is the sort of thing that if I did, it would basically be me screaming at the kids and all of them crying.  But when Craig does it, they all have a great time and the table got put together beautifully.  I don't know how he does that?

So now we have an air hockey table! It's been a week and the kids aren't sick of it yet, so that's a win!  

The rest of the day was spent cooking and eating and just enjoying life.  It was all so very merry!