Christmas Day!

On Christmas morning, we woke to the sound of Daniel's running feet coming up the stairs and into our bedroom.  Once he was at our bedside, this is what we we treated to: 

Daniel: "Mom, Dad- It's time to wake up!  I sleeped and sleeped and sleeped until Glowy turned green, and then I heard a hoof on the roof and a jingle and I came upstairs and Santa was really here!  He brought us presents!  He brought me a big truck and jeep that was in Whitefish!  I forgot to ask him for that but he brought it for me and I love it!  It's time to get up Mom & Dad, come see!"

We did get up and go see.  Santa had very thoughtfully removed said truck and jeep from their packaging, allowing a little boy to get in some serious play time before his much-later-sleeping sister woke up.  It also gave his Mom time to shower and cook breakfast (Eggnog French Toast prepped the night before- delicious!) just in time for Sophie's awakening.  

 Once breakfast had been enjoyed, we got to work opening presents.  Sophie caught on to how to unwrap pretty quickly and was very excited to discover a talking Elmo.

 Daniel was thrilled to find this "Big Mack" which is both a toy and storage for his Cars cars.  Sophie had a long wait before her car was assembled, but once it was she took Elmo for quite a few joy rides around the house.

After present opening we quickly got ready & headed to the Christmas Day service at church.  At the end, Daniel & the other children were invited to help ring the big church bell for Christmas Day.  The goal was to "ring it until we quite get arrested" and the ringing did go on for quite awhile before it was time to head home and feast.

We spent a leisurely afternoon enjoying a large Christmas dinner, skyping and calling relatives, and playing with the kids.   Thibaut (one of our international students) came over and we were glad he could also celebrate with us.