Happy Birthday Jesus!

Daddy getting an upgrade to the basic razor....

More favorite recipes to try in her new cookbook

Just Dance 2, and boy are we glad it was on her list, it's just hysterical fun, I didn't know my kids could boogie that well.....

Star Wars for his new Leapster 2 - received a cool "AWESOME" from Conner

He wanted one just like his cousin Ayden's, looks like Santa was listening...

Why is it that after a very late night, parents think that their kids would sleep in just a little bit the next morning? Not my kids, and certainly not when that morning is one of their favorite days of the year, Christmas! My only hope was that they would at least wait until the sun came up! So in the early morning hours the kids came bounding up the stairs with excitement. Conner noticed that all that was left of the cookies and candy were crumbs and then headed to the garbage to see if Santa threw the wrappers away (from the chocolate candy) and when there weren't any he said he hoped Santa didn't throw them on the floor. Steve redirected him to the big window to see whether the deer had found his food they had sprinkled on the snow the night before (a school project he came home with, sprinkle the deer food so they have something to eat while waiting for Santa to come back up the chimney). Lo and behold, deer tracks! Santa had certainly come!

Stockings were the first order and boy do they make quick work of that process, time for a coffee break, and much needed at this early hour. The sun finally completes it's beautiful task of arriving and we move onto the presents. This year was the first year our household did NOT creatively adapt a favorite game to make present opening interesting. The reason, we broke down after a year of pleading from our eldest, and blessed them with a WII. They are a ton of fun and something the whole family can enjoy! My hubby surprised me with a much needed replacement in the camera area and bless him for finding a simple alternative, all automatic!

Pancakes, whipped topping, bacon, a yummy breakfast and a very late seafood extravaganza lunch and off to Willmar we go for more Christmas fun! Papa took us for a ride so that we could take in the lights display put on by a very nice young man, Chad Koosman. He does it every year and stands at the end of his driveway taking donations for the Salvation Army. Last year he raised over $20,000! A very fitting way to end to a very glorious day, Happy Birthday Jesus!