Christmas is finally here!

After we picked up Mims and Pa from the airport on the 23rd, we all felt that Christmas had finally gotten here! Mims and Pa were sending Christmas with us and we were so excited to finally get them here. The kids were up early on the 24th! We had a mound of presents under the tree and that was without the Santa presents that were coming later that night so its needless to say that by the 24th they were dying!! AB had know idea that there were actually toys inside all those presents otherwise I seriously doubt we would have made it to the 24th without one of them getting opened!
We played cards, ate lots of food, watched football and just enjoyed a lazy Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, Lyle was at work alllllllll day and didn't make it home until around 11pm! The Children's mass was at 5 and since the kids were in the play again this year we had to get there about an hour early. I was so thankful that Mims and Pa went with us! It helped keep AB calm! Here are some pics of our King and our angel...although you can barely see Ella behind the altar.

After we got home from Church we let the kids each open a gift...the one they had bought for each other. Luke got Ella a pin board she had wanted for her room, Ella got Luke a Duke shirt, and they got AB together a broom and dust pan set that she absolutely adored!! That is when she first realized there were toys in those pretty boxes!
After that excitement, they each got their PJs and quickly headed to bed....that is after they set out treats and wrote letters to Santa:

They went to bed without a peep! So excited for what the morning would bring! I always love this time of Christmas. After the kids go to sleep, I sit by the tree and marvel at the wonderful life we have been given...so many presents...so much love.
The next morning, Lyle had to quickly go into work before the kids got up. I told the kids the night before that they couldn't come out of their rooms until 7am which by then daddy would be home. I slept with AB in her room in the big bed. I could hear Ella and Luke stirring in their rooms around 6am but I knew Lyle wasn't home yet. Around 6:30 he called and said he was wrapping things up and should be home soon. AB had woken up and was playing in bed with me and since we couldn't go out of our rooms either I decided to Facetime Ella and Luke to make the time go faster. They were dying! They couldn't wait to run into the living room! Finally Lyle got home and around 7:05 they burst into the living room!
This is what we saw:

This year the kids got (if I can remember):
Ella: electric blanket, Ella ring, clothes, boots, clay, Monopoly, daily planner from mims, helmet, and some other things.
Luke: huge nerf gun, high tops, spy gear, clothes, watch, NFL sized football and some other stuff.
AB: kitchen with all the accessories, sophia princess dress with wand and shoes, bath tub toys, toy cookies
Family; lazer tag guns, lazer tag cars, hot chocolate maker, drone, air pump, movie tickets with gift card for snacks (from Grandma and Grandpa)
and the big gift.....a trip to Disney Land!!! We didn't give that to end. Lyle acted like he thought we were missing some gifts and then I said "Oh yeah, let me go get them" I brought up three different sized boxes. In Ella's box was a note that said "We are", Luke's note said, "Going to" and AB's note said "DisneyLand" Ella opened hers first and knew immediately what was going on. Then once Luke got his opened they were screaming for AB to get hers open! It was cute! I think they were really surprised! We spent the rest of the morning tearing through toys and eating breakfast...I made a breakfast casserole with cinnamon rolls. We really enjoyed having Mims and Pa there with us to share in the kids' excitement! They loved getting to share it with them!
Here are the very excited kiddos: