Merry Christmas (round 1)



Stella, Jonah and Daddy coming down the stairs!

Finally Christmas Day was upon us! Thankfully Stella and Jonah both slept in and didn't get us up until about 8am. Whats funny is that we told Stella the night before that if she woke up before 8am not to even come into our room because we would send her back to bed. We'll have to remind her of that each year- seemed to have worked! Like every year, mommy has to get the action shot (photo) of the family coming down the stairs.


First thing Stella did once she came down the stairs was run over to the plate of cookies and milk we had left out the night before. "Yup Santa was definitely here!" Stella exclaimed. Of course Santa ate the cookies and even finished his milk. We made sure only to leave out 2 cookies since Santa has to eat so many cookies at each stop. I am sure that Santa is very thankful that we are considerate of his diet. I mean we wouldn't want Santa to eat too many cookies- geez.



Stella and Jonah with the stockings



Next Stella ran to the stockings and found that there was loot left in her stockings and presents stacked underneath wrapped from Santa. Todd and I have debated year after year whether to wrap Santa presents because we each had different experiences as children. Santa wrapped my presents growing up and Santa did not wrap Todd's. After a long debate and a Facebook poll, I decided that Santa was going to wrap the presents this year! I don't think Todd really cared either way, he just didn't want to get stuck wrapping them but since I had a few days off from work before Christmas and Stella was at daycare, I had ample opportunity to get them wrapped up. Also to avoid the obvious handwriting dilemma on the presents (because I noticed that Santa always seemed to have the same handwriting as my mom growing up), Santa wrapped Stella's presents in purple penguin paper and Jonah's in blue snowmen paper.



Stella with her Santa presents

At our house Santa brings 3 presents for each child since baby Jesus received 3 presents on his birthday. Also since Santa has to carry so many presents for all of the other boys and girls he only has enough room on his sleigh for 3 presents per child. This does not count whats left in the stockings of course! Typically Santa brings 3 major presents- this year he brought Stella an i-pod shuffle, an alarm clock and a digital camera. Jonah got toys since we didn't keep any of Stella's baby toys. Stella's stocking loot included Pokemom cards, crayons, coloring book, OSU earmuffs, gloves and candy. Jonah had a few books, rattle and teethers.  Buckeye received a box of dog treats and mommy and daddy had candy in their stockings.



Stella with her stocking.


Of course Stella and Jonah exchanged presents with each other. Stella had a great time picking out a toy for him at the toy store. She picked out a cute little blue elephant that when you press it's nose it makes an elephant noise and shakes and vibrates. It's very very cute and she was so excited to give it to him.I love how much she adores him. Jonah got Stella 2- 100 piece puzzles; a Toy Story 3 and a Spongebob puzzle.



Jonah and his loot!

After all of the presents were opened and the family room looked like a bomb had gone off we made Christmas breakfast. This year I let Stella picked out our Christmas breakfast. We had homemade (and by homemade I mean straight out of a cylindrical can) sticky Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, juice and coffee for mommy. Stella enjoyed icing the rolls when they came out of the oven- and boy they were delicious!

After breakfast it was time to get dressed, ready, load up the car and begin to make our rounds....