Christmas...Taking It All In

It's 5:00 pm on Christmas day, and the house is quiet...for now :) I have been sitting here enjoying a mug of hot apple cider and watching the sun go down. I didn't get a picture, but it looked stunning as it descended behind the mountains. I could see rays of golden light peeking out through the snow covered trees in our yard. What a perfect end to a glorious Christmas day!

We spent the day with just our girls today. I'm not sure what time Addison and Tegan got up and opened their stockings, but the other four of us were up around 8:15 or so to open the rest of the presents. Watching the girls open their gifts was the best thing ever! They were all so excited, and Myka and Danica kept making a cute little sound when we would hand them another.

Of course they wanted to put as many gifts to use as they could as soon as possible, so they have spent a majority of the day wearing their new bathing suits and/or princess dresses. 

Myka and Danica each got a set of board books from Costco, and we spent a looong time on the couch reading them over and over. 

As for the older girls, we have barely seen them. I suppose we should have seen it coming....we did buy them two new wii games and a movie each, after all. We also bought them each a chapter book. Addison really loves the movie "How to Train Your Dragon", and I just happened to find a novel based on the movie for her. It might still be a bit old for her, but she has read through "Charlotte's Web" and "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" this year, so I think she will be up for the challenge. 

Poor Daniel has spent the day sick...most of it in bed. He's come out for gifts, dinner and some visiting with the girls though, and I'm just so glad he hasn't gotten called to work. I would feel so bad if he had to go out feeling like this.

At Christmas dinner we were talking and figured out that we leave for Maui in TEN days! I get more and more excited each day...I can't wait to spend time with the older two girls there, woohoo!

And now, the girls are playing a game, Danica is napping, and Myka is sitting near me playing with her new magna doodle. I love the peace that comes with Christmas day. I love sitting here thinking about what that first Christmas was like. If today is so special to me as a mom, I can't even imagine what it was like for Mary!

And now for the rest of the day, we will pop some corn and enjoy each other's company in our warm, cozy house (the last Christmas in this trailer!).

I hope every one had a very Merry Christmas!

Last night at my mom's house, the girls were so excited to open their gifts from her!

Christmas PJ's for the cutest little girls ever!

New Toys :)

She captures the joy of the day perfectly!

Sweet Tegan!

Seeing this smile today was awesome, as always :)