Christmas Morning!

I thought I was back in the habit of blogging, but here I am finally posting about Christmas.

Christmas was fabulous! Our kids are at such an awesome stage, enjoying the magic of Christmas. Mr. Elf made sure these kids behaved this season, and apparently good things were reported to Santa. Among other things, the kids scored two things they had been begging for and dreaming about: a puppy and a trampoline.

For about a year now, Emerson has pretty much been begging Cliff for a puppy on a a daily basis. Cliff finally told her a a month or so before Christmas that perhaps Santa could bring one. She was ecstatic. Me...not so much.  I tried to play it down, in case we had to back out of that one. Then I put a lot of thought into it, and started looking at and researching different dogs. Slowly, but surely, excitement built up, and I knew we needed the addition to our family. Many people have seen the way she is around dogs and other animals, and they each have told me she needs one. Stone wanted one just as much.  Sooooo....I finally agreed that Santa could bring one, and as it got closer, plans were made. THEN, I finally got excited about it with her, and said, "So you're going to ask Santa for a puppy???" And she said, "No. I don't want it anymore. Just lots of babies." WHOA WHOA WHOA. What?!

Needless to say, Santa delivered one regardless. And so far he is a hit.  We have this on video; she pretty much kissed him as soon as she saw him....

I mean really, look at that face (which face, you ask? Both.)...

Emerson is our sensitive child, and super super sweet. I really think since I made it sound like Santa wouldn't be able to bring one, she convinced herself she didn't want one anymore, and moved on. That's how sweet she is. And it's behaviors like that, that make you WANT to give in to some things.

As far as the trampoline, it's been pretty sad. They are in love with it, but have had about 3 days worth of jumping on it, and I haven't even shot good pictures of them. It rained all Christmas morning. It then turned to snow, and snowed through the day after Christmas (HOORAY for a white Christmas!! More on that soon). Then Stone got pretty sick for several days. Just as he began to feel better (New Years Eve), Emerson got croup New Years day (really bad for a couple days). She finally began to feel 100% yesterday, and it started to rain all day long, and rained all day today. In between the sickness, rain, and snow, we had a few nice days that they took advantage of. They stare at it in the pouring rain, and beg and beg.

Soon they will be able to enjoy it!...

I love watching their faces as they open each gift. They were full of joy.

 It looks like we opened presents at night. That's how dark and dreary it was outside!

Oops...wrong baby in the Bumbo...

All around, an amazing day!