Christmas Day

We made a deal before putting the boys to bed on Christmas Eve that they had to stay in bed until 6am. They could wake us up anytime after 6 and we'd get busy opening presents. Lucky for us, they slept until 6:20!! 

They were excited to open their gifts, but not out-of-control. They didn't even utter a complaint when I asked them to stand together for a picture! 

The boys had a bunch of gifts under the tree this year because Grandma & Grandpa Schrag and the Schrag aunts and uncles all shipped their gifts to our house. But we decided to have the boys open the gifts from us first. Levi got pink high heeled boots. Just kidding. They're from the dress-up clothes, but they certainly worked to confuse him and make him laugh. We'll take him shopping to pick out new cowboy boots next week.

The perk of being up early was the chance to watch the sky change and welcome in the day.

There was lots of commotion as the boys unwrapped gifts and I didn't even try to capture each gift in a picture.
 Ben and I also exchanged gifts - Ben surprised me with Ben Folds concert tickets!!! And got him a Fry Daddy (yum!). :-)
Levi had a huge box under the tree and he'd been very, very, very curious about it and finally it was time to open it.

He took time to read the gift note from Aunt Lia, Uncle Andy, Aunt Sara and Uncle Josh:

And then he opened up the box to discover it was his long awaited drum set!

He was so excited and loud!

And he wanted to get busy setting it up right away.

Our living room was pure chaos.

Noah received a BB gun from his aunts and uncles and has spent several hours outside already "hunting" birds and squirrels.

Little Olivia was desperate to join us. She kept meowing at the window and climbing the screen.

Once all the gifts were unwrapped, Ben went outside to feed cattle (yep, 170 steers arrived earlier this week) and I got breakfast pulled together.

Levi's face doesn't tell this, but we had a lovely breakfast of coffeecake, cheese and oranges. By 8am we were done celebrating Christmas at our house. All that was left was a couple hours of putting things together and playing with everything.

The unwrapping of gifts goes by quickly and children are always ready to move on to the next gift. Our boys never seem truly content with what they got, especially when they realize they've opened all of their gifts. They're incapable of soaking it in and enjoying each gift. But it's usually a couple hours later or maybe even a few days later that they take time to put all their new stuff to good use.
Immediately after breakfast, Levi had water in his new water bottle. Noah was busy trying to learn about his BB gun and Levi was begging us to set up his drum set. After we got the drums set up, Ben moved on to setting up the basketball goal we got for the boys. And while they waited for that to be complete there was lots of drumming and Noah played his new hunting video game. But soon it was time for us to go to my parents for another Christmas!
Mom, despite having had a chemo treatment eight days before Christmas, cooked a wonderful meal for us. Once that was cleaned up, the boys each played their piano pieces. This time Noah tried "Silent Night" as a duet.

And then we exchanged gifts! We missed having Rylee with us, but the boys sure soaked up all the attention they could get.

There were rocket balloons, stomp rockets, bow & arrows and whoopy cushions! Plus, a couple of remote controlled vehicles and a helicopter. I guarantee we have no shortage of flying objects around our house. :-) Although, by the end of Christmas both whoopy cushions had been used so many times they gave out!

Levi couldn't wait to show off his drum set to everyone. He's waited for three Christmas's to get this drum set. The first year I was sure it was simply a phase and that he'd forget about it. But he's consistently asked for one each year.

And now he can pound away and sing his heart out in his room. He got an electric guitar with a microphone from my sister and Miki - that's being put to good use too. :-)

Ben and I have never been more thankful for doors in our lives. :-)
The day after Christmas brought plenty of time for the boys to play. Ben and I worked around the house/farm and the boys played. Hunting, driving, flying, shooting hoops, wearing new clothes, playing new video games, playing kick ball, drumming, singing, reading and more, repeat, repeat, repeat. :-)