We started out by being up, showered, dressed, and fed by 8:54...we did a live video call with MIL at 9, so she could watch the kids open the loot...errr...I mean gifts she purchased for them. By 9:57, we were loading up the kids, tearing a temper tantrum throwing Captain Chaos from his new toys, to drive to my parents house, where for the next 150 minutes (That is 2.5 hours people...) handing out a truckload of gifts, opening said truckload, and then cleaning up the aftermath. At around 1, we herded the kids to the table, where we grazed on crackers, cheese, meat, cookies, fudge, fruit, veggies, muffins, sweet rolls, stollen, more cookies, more fudge, coffee, juice...you get the idea...we left at about 2:30 to bring the children home (Captain Chaos again sobbing about his train...)for naps. We headed back over at 6 when they awoke, and had dinner, more cookies, more fudge, hot cider, more coffee, ice cream...and dragged our weary selves home at 9:30 last night.
We were supposed to be at the Nature & Science Museum with PreacherMan, MissionaryMan and their families, but we decided that the kids needed a "normal" day at home...
So, while Tiny Princess napped, I attempted to do some laundry, and organize the gifts that didn't get organized yesterday...
All I can say is that my Mom is the best ever bargain shopper in the universe...hands-down...no contest, so don't even go there...How do I know this, you ask??! Well, let me tell you...she was able to purchase gifts for 15 other people on a budget, and make us feel as though she spent a fortune on all of us...for example she found :
- 2 wooden train sets (for Captain Chaos and MissionaryMan's oldest)
- 2 tool sets (for the "little" boys)
- 2 outfits with 8 pairs of socks (for the little boys)
- 2 outfits (for the little girls)
- 2 pairs of pants each for the big kids
- 4 shirts each for the big kids
- 2 books each for the big kids
- a soldering station, a multimeter, & a breadboard for the oldest nephew
- baby dolls for the little girls
- Fisher-Price Little People "playhouse", airplane, and firetruck for the little kids
- 2 handmade books for the little girls
- handmade tea towels for the daughters-in-law and me
- 2 sweaters for BB
- clothes for each of my brothers
- a couple power tools and necessary things for my local brother
- a stepstool, belt, photoshop software for Dad
- a tea set for me
- scrapbooking supplies for each of the girls
My children alone received:
- Mr Potato Head
- See n Say
- Dr Seuess books
- 7 DVDs
- playground balls (you remember the kickball balls? yup, those are the ones!)
- Playskool Activity balls (that have texture, & sounds)...
Needless to say, there will be no shopping for anything other than baby wipes, socks, and baby shampoo for several months at our house...in fact, I'm thinking that we'll get some things for Tiny Princess' birthday that are "girlie toys", and a a couple wheeled baskets from Target that are pink and purple, rather than blue and yellow, and maybe some new jammies...but for the rest of the year, they aren't getting a #*@(&$ new thing as far as toys and books go!
However, it was an absolute joy to watch them be so excited about presents! Captain Chaos totally got into it this year, tearing up the paper, shouting and saying "WOW!" over and over about each thing...Tiny Princess didn't quite get it, but by her birthday, she'll be all good...
Captain Chaos came downstairs yesterday and saw the "Santa Presents" that were unwrapped sitting on our coffee table and immediately started talking about his tools and the book...not seeing the full-metal Tonka dump truck, or fire truck, or the vintage candy dispenser...He even ran over and grabbed Tiny Princess' new rattly teether thing-a-majig and stuffed it in her face...he was so excited to get the presents from under the tree, and open them, that when we got to my parents, he didn't understand that not all the boxes and bags were for him, and, in fact, attempted several times to open whatever he could carry in for himself!
We had fun, we wore ourselves out, and are now basking in the aftermath.
The one good side effect to such crazy days? I've lost 8 pounds in the last 14 days, and my family will be here until January 1st! We're heading to the mountains, weather permitting, on Monday to do some snowshoeing, and it'll be my first attempt with Tiny Princess in the backpack carrier...wish me luck!
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