Presents!

   This past Christmas was such a fun season for our little family! We weren't overly busy...just busy enough! We got to spend time with extended family: opening presents, eating good food, and playing lots of fun games! This year our own little family celebration was so much fun! Pj was more involved than she has been in the past years. She was excited by the wrapped presents under the tree, she loved opening her gifts, and she enthusiastically played with each new toy. She also enjoyed helping her parents and brother open their gifts and she was so cute as she showed Big C how to play with each of his new items.
   I really truly tried to keep the amount of presents limited this year, but I think I failed. I love giving gifts (one of my love languages!) and I have a hard time limiting what each child receives. Also, I start shopping for Christmas early in the year (as in January) and start to store up items. This year, with the move, I was finding gifts in different boxes and areas around the house right up to Christmas morning...I was much less organized than I typically like to be. That said, it was such a fun morning and Pj has been playing so well with her new toys ever since (so no complaints here!). 

   Mark and I decided that each kiddo would receive one "large" gift. This year Pj received a box full of dress-up clothes (some of these clothes were thrifted and some were new). Big C's large present was a car mat with soft top cars. It was so exciting setting up the presents under the tree Christmas Eve when Pj was in bed. When she woke up in the morning we took her downstairs...she didn't even notice the toys around the tree right away - she was more interested in the fresh muffins and cut up fruit sitting on the coffee table in the living room :). Once we pointed out the dress-up box she was very excited and sorted through it with lots of giggles and "oohs and ahhs!". She also loved the car mat and it was cute watching her and Big C explore and play on the mat with the cars! 

Pj playing with her new dress-up purses!

Playing on the car mat!

These two are going to be the best of players :). I hope!

Pj playing with her new Dr. set and scrub shirt (from the dress-up box). The scrub shirt is currently on my pile of sewing - I am going to make it into a lab coat for her :).

   There were some other presents under the tree: some playmobile for the kiddos to share, lots of books, and some quiet time activities to add to Pj's quiet time activity box. The whole process took a couple of hours because each toy had to be unpacked and played with before we could go on!

 I had taken Pj out shopping to pick a present for her to give to Big C. She helped me wrap it and was so excited to give it to him. She was so cute picking it out too! She took quite a long time, tested a number of different toys, and finally settled on this round activity ball. This is the only toy in the house that Pj calls Big C's (every other toy belongs to her (she thinks!)). She also always ensures that Big C has this toy no matter where he is! 

    After all the fun with the "under the tree" presents we still had our stockings to enjoy. Pj thought that this was the icing on the cake...although she had a hard time allowing Mommy, Daddy, and Big C to open their own stockings :). 

Already showing interest in the right things! This Maple Leaf mini stick has kept him quite occupied! 

    
    We had such a fun morning :). I am so thankful for the members of my little family. They truly are such wonderful blessings and the best presents that I've ever received!