Not a creature was stirring....

On your mark, get set....GO!

Just what he needs, to be encouraged to hit!

Jake and his truck

Emilee's look-a-like doll, "Kit".

Wonder pets...a favorite at our house

Princess "jazmint", as Gracie would say.

Haydn has turned into quite the bookworm.

Yeah, wii got the wii!!

Garbage collector..

Aftermath...

One of Gracie's many Fairy costumes.

Yeah right! My kids were up at the crack of dawn....I guess I'm just not that motivated by gifts anymore. :) But I do love to watch the kids' reactions as they open their gifts. Our Christmas was not as big this year, (Grandma and Grandpa Hillesheim took us to Disneyland for Christmas) so we didn't have the usual mountain of gifts piled up by the tree. It was kind of nice to keep things simple...less garbage to clean up and haul out! Of course we finished in record time because they only take turns for the first few presents and then they're opening everything all at once. It was a good day....but this year was a little different for me. I think because we were so busy and gone a lot the month of Nov., I didn't have as much time to prepare myself or even get excited for Christmas. The older I get, the more Christmas means something different...which is good, I guess that means I'm growing up. :) Of course, it will ALWAYS be my favorite time of year......(with the exception of those quiet moments when I'm walking in the fall and can hear the wind catch the leaves on the ground and swirl them up into the air)....okay, okay, guess I should enjoy a little spring and summer first. But I do hope that everyone had a good Christmas and enjoyed the time spent with family and friends.....besides, that's really what it's all about....isn't it?