Christmas Day.

Much like last year, Emmy was the first to stir on Christmas morning.  It was about 7:45 when she started babbling in her crib and because Ben and me had both been awake for about twenty minutes, we decided to go ahead and get her up in hopes that the big kids would being to stir as well.  Our plan worked!

Contrary to what's portrayed in the image above, Emmy was actually in a really great mood.  She's just not much for pictures first thing in the morning. :)

Babe was a little nervous that Santa might not have come (she didn't hear any "jing-a-ling-a-lings" in the middle of the night), but we made it downstairs to find out that he most certainly stopped at our house!!

We had an absolute BLAST going through everything!

 

There really isn't much that compares to Christmas morning!

 

Once we'd checked out Santa's loot, we took a break for breakfast:  powdered donuts, sausage, and biscuits.  After fueling up, we headed back into the living room to exchange the gifts we'd purchased for each other.  Harris played Santa and distributed all of the gifts and then we took turns watching each person open a present.  The kids were so excited to give the gifts they'd chosen especially for certain family members. 

 

 

After we finished with the gifts, we put Emmy Doe down for a nap and started getting ready for the rest of the family to come over.  Ben made a pecan pie and got a turkey ready to fry and the rest of us played and played and played some more. 

 

Auntie, DB, Tyler, Cody, Mo, Raven, Sam, and Granti came over around 1:30 or so a Christmas lunch, complete with fried turkey, deviled eggs, macaroni and cheese, corn casserole, apricot casserole, asparagus, a veggie tray, and the absolutely delicious pie.  We pigged out and then exchanged even more gifts.

 

 

Although Mom (and the rest of the adults in our family) managed to walk away with Rod Stewart tickets, it seemed as if the kids celebrated the Year of the Lego.  I've decided that Legos aren't really my thing.  Thankfully, my sweet kiddos are loved like crazy by other adults who were willing to spend the afternoon building. :)

 

 

Pop made it by in time to chow down on some turkey, too, and we spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around, enjoying new toys, and setting Dad up with a facebook account.  As Babe would say, "Lord, help us."

 

Emmy even managed to snag herself a little chocolate. That girl is quickly becoming a hot mess.

Ben and I ended the evening by eating pie and watching "Love Actually" once we got our over-tired, over-stimulated kiddos in the bed.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

From our house to yours, Merry, Merry Christmas!

PS:  I love this next pic.