"MOMMMY!!!HAS SANTA BEEN HERE?!?!"

"MOMMY!!! HAS SANTA BEEN HERE?!?!?!?!?!" That's what I woke up to at 5:40 on Christmas morning. It's funny having kids. The excitement from Christmas starts all over again. I remember waking up early, EARLY, and looking at the loot, running to get my sister, checking it out again, turning on the Christmas tree lights, then waiting till a more appropriate hour to go get our parents. No matter what time I went to bed, I was always the first one up. I went to bed at 11:40 on Christmas Eve, and on any regular day, the children coming into my room at 5:40 would have released a scary, monstrous, dragon of a mommy, but not Christmas morning, I'm JUST as excited as they are, I JUMP out of bed and say "LETS SEE!!" we both go running in there... her face is priceless "HE'S BEEN HERE MOM.. HE'S BEEN HERE!!!" her eyes were a Wonder, open big and a smile from ear to ear. She yells "WHERE'S MY POGO STICK?!?!?!" well of course it's right there, but her excitement makes her almost blind it would seem. She runs to get her sister who.. is a little less spunky at first but gets into the spirit quickly, they both want to put on their helmets so they can try out their new gifts from Santa. After that and after I set up the video camera, It was time to rip and tare!

Evidence that Santa had indeed been there. ALTHOUGH, when ever I handed the kids a present I had to remind them that not EVERYTHING was from Santa, but that, Mommy, daddy, grandma, Auntie also got them things. We can't let the big guy get ALL the credit.

Grace trying out her pogo for the first time. She was precious, she just loved it! She obviously can't do it alone, no surprise there. But she can make it go up and down which I was surprised about. I didn't think she would weigh enough to even do that. But she can make it move a little bit.

Their "connected dolls" They both wanted these, so MOMMY and DADDY pulled threw. I will say, this year the girls got just about EVERYTHING the same, two outfits, two pj's, both got barbies, jewelry box's, sleeping bags. I learned from last year, everything the one had, the other wanted, so this year i didn't make the same mistake. I doubled everything so now the only thing they had to fight about was color. haha!

Grandma got Grace the cabbage patch kid she wanted. her name is Dreama and she just loves her. She takes her with her just about every where. She's good little mommy.

and I got Tyler a phone with a cord, which started a project that I will speak about in my next posting. I finally got him the phone he's always wanted, it only took him braking one of my cordless phones into tiny pieces. and I mean Tiny. BUT now he's got his phone with cord, that will always be in the same spot, not on the counter, or stuffed in between the couch cushions, but right where it's plugged into the wall.

I like Presley's face, that's her saying "BOOTS!"

Grace ROCKING it with the Guitar her Grandma got her.

and Presley rocking it on the spongebob keyboard from Grandma. Their dad said he wanted them to have Musical Instruments.. I wonder if he regrets that yet?

After present opening, playtime, and lunch the girls wanted to take a bath so they could play with their new bath tub crayons. But in true Khoranoff fashion they didn't use the crayons for the tub, but rather themselves, each other... you know, not what they were made for. But it was cute and they love the crayons, which does keep the water IN the tub. Always a plus for me.

My Microwave.. I'll tell you.. you have NO IDEA how much you use this till you don't have one. I was SO happy to get a microwave and even happier that it didn't take Tyler 3 weeks to set up!

Later that night we headed to Tyler's parents house. I MUST be honest, I wasn't only NOT looking forward to this, but I was really REALLY mad about it. I'll spare the dirty details (even tho, I know dirty details are the best part...) But it involved ME trying to work out a get together, it NOT going my MIL's way and her LYING (I can't confirm that, however i STRONGLY believe it to be true) to me about having to work then US rearranging our day to accommodate her and her lie. It REALLY got my goat, BUT I put on a smile, and mustered up enough niceness for my children and husband to go and be pleasant. I couldn't make small talk with her, when we walked in and she grabbed me and said "Oh darling I love you so much" I couldn't even speak, I just smiled and gave a small half hug then walked away.

I don't know why I even try....

Presley opening her Birthday presents from her Grandma Patti and papa

Grace opening her Christmas present.

Dinner time!

Presley with her cousin Jill. That's Cheryl's daughter, and Cheryl is Tyler's sister who moved to Colorado a little over a year ago. She came to town this year for Christmas, it was nice seeing her and the kids.

That's pearl the dog saying "God help me"

Aunt Cheryl and Presley.

Grace and Ty

Once we were done with the In Laws house, we went home, put the kids to bed and crashed I think. I don't remember to be honest. But I do know I REALLY enjoyed this Christmas, I Enjoyed not having to be any where in the morning or after noon, I liked going late. It gave the kids time to play with their stuff, let me take a nap, it was just REALLY relaxing. I think next year we are going to look into getting a cabin in Julian, I think that would be fun.

We talked about it this year with my mom and sister, about how Christmas has lost it's meaning, how people who probably don't even believe in God and Jesus celebrate Christmas and for what? For an excuse to give each other gifts? I dunno, i just think the meaning is totally lost, I think it's gotten way to commercialized and I don't want to fall into that rut with my kids. They do and will remain aware of why we celebrate Christmas. It's the best time to be with family and I think setting some rules on gift's and the time spent together will make it even more meaningful next year. Like I said before, i hope you all had a great Christmas I hope it was blessed with family and memories. Mine sure was.