Christmas 2012

Alexa, Tysen, and Gavin are looking at their presents under the tree as they are coming downstairs on Christmas morning.

Santa wrapped each child's presents in a different wrapping paper so it would be easy for them to know which presents they could open!  At first, I told the kids, "I bet that Santa wanted Gavin to open the presents in the Hello Kitty paper and for Alexa to open the presents in the Lightening McQueen paper..." and right away they objected and corrected me!

Gavin was even excited about his new underwear!

It didn't take the kids long to open up all of their presents and make a huge mess in our living room!

Bowen was so happy all day! 

Gavin loves all of his new Spider-man stuff.

Santa knows that we spend lots of time outside so these nice headlamps with make it easy for everybody to see us!
(Matt and I wear these in the summertime when we jog at night pushing the kids in the jogging strollers.  They are always begging us to let them hold the light and we usually do, but then they fight over them.  This will be nice so that we each have our own.)

Alexa picked out this gift for Daddy- almonds!  She knows that he loves them.

Merry Christmas, Baby!

Cozy socks!  She's always jealous of mine (although mine don't have the cute doggie heads).

Gavin got a web-shooter toy!

Gabbi is checking it out.

A Hello Kitty tutu for gymnastics

Bowen is chewing on some plastic packaging.

Gavin is showing off his new Lightening McQueen socks.

Tysen is helping Bowen with his stocking.

Gabbi really loved this toy that Santa left in her paw-shaped stocking.  Matt and I both commented on how unusual it is to see her play with dog toys.

Bowen is having a great time playing with his new toys.

Alexa and Gavin got a cool set of walkie-talkies from Grandma and  Papa Pearson.

I love my new tote with my initials on it from my dad and Diane.

Matt is trying on his new dress coat and scarf.

I finally get to see my secret present that Matthew has been working on for weeks now.  Until Christmas morning, I had strict orders not to go in our office or the garage.  He built me a craft table and organized my supplies!  It was so thoughtful of him.  Before, I had to carry everything out to the dining room table when I wanted to make something.  I was never able to find what I wanted because my supplies were stored in bags in a pile. I am really looking forward to my next project (probably decorations for Gavin's 4th birthday).

Matt is wearing his new running shirt from Santa and getting ready to serve the kids Christmas donuts.

Tysen reading one of his new books!  The kids all got really nice books and I am looking forward to reading them new bedtime stories.

After our family opened up our gifts from Santa, Uncle Brian, Aunt Megan, and her parents Pam and Bob came over to our house for a big meal and to spend Christmas together.  We had a wonderful time!  I was excited to use my Christmas gift that I received last year from my dad and Diane, my Pampered Chef deviled egg container.  The green inserts are actually ice packs that have divots to hold the eggs in place and to keep them cold for up to 4 hours!  It worked amazing and everyone was impressed by how tasty my deviled eggs were.  I was super proud of them because it was my first attempt and they took so long to prepare. 

Bowen's First Christmas

We ate really bad on Christmas! But everything was delicious.

Later that afternoon, the boys just crashed.  While they were napping, Aunt Megan and I helped Alexa put together  one of her new puzzles.  It was a 100-piece and she pretty much did the whole thing by herself.  She's really good at puzzles.

Bowen is cuddling with Pam.

Then Aunt Megan, Uncle Brian, and I taught Alexa how to play "Uno."  (Hello Kitty Uno, of course!)  While we played cards, we also watched "A Christmas Story" on television.

Then Alexa wanted to get comfy and wear her new pajamas and slippers.  That's her doggie, Cookie.

Uncle Brian and Aunt Megan surprised the kids with this awesome gift, a 5-foot pop-up play tent!  They've been having so much fun in it.  We brought down blankets, sleeping bags, and pillows and Alexa slept in it overnight.

This is a short video of the madness going on in our house on Christmas morning!