This year's Christmas was the best (and the worst) by far. Let's not even talk about why it was the worst for me and my family...we all know. I was happy to have our sadness completely overshadowed by the twinkle in Brian's eye on Christmas morning. His excitement for Santa and the entire magical Christmas experience totally "made" our day.
After waking up the boys, we whisked them into our bedroom for a fun breakfast picnic in "Mommy and Daddy's room." Our way of ensuring that everyone had breakfast before it would be impossible to accomplish. They got a kick out of eating in their little chairs in front of a Christmas show on our TV!
Why did I do this? Well, I knew that the first thing that Gavin would want to do was eat. He'd fuss for his food for sure. But the first thing that Brian would want to do would be presents! I can't blame him. And it would be hard to tear him away from that to eat. I wanted them to both experience Santa's presents together - so this was my solution. We won't get away with this for too much longer - but it worked this year! My only regret was absentmindedly dressing them in clothes (like a normal day) instead of leaving them in their cute Christmas pajamas. Oh well...can't win Mother of the Year every day.
It was after our breakfast picnic that I sprung the photo of Santa in our house on the boys. Check it out...
Brian knew that was our tree and definitely studied the photo...intrigued by all the "things" that he'd never seen before. We decided to make our way downstairs to investigate. He was so adorable...
After we let them loose, one surprising thing happened - and one not so surprising thing.
Brian loved opening presents. But with each one he opened, that was all he wanted! We had to encourage him to keep opening. This shouldn't have been surprising as it's totally age-appropriate for him to act that way. I think I was just projecting MY excitement for him to see everything!!
The not so surprising thing was Gavin's reaction Christmas morning. His "showpiece" present was the GIANT snow globe - something I thought he'd flip over. But we weren't surprised when Gavin kept crawling away - over the mountain of toys - to get to the playroom. His "tried and true" toys that we've had for years are all he wants. (When will I learn to re-wrap them every year??? *wink*)
Among (too) many things, the boys got some new puzzles...
Brian got binoculars that also serve as a View Master...
Gavin got some new musical books and it took all my strength to keep him in my lap for this quick photo before he was OFF....
Daddy picked out a cool police car with motion and lights...
And Gavin got a cool "Cement Mixer" that serves several functions. He can spin the barrel to "mix" the cement (which are the balls inside that have bells in them) - Gavin loves to spin things. And he can also reach into the barrel to pull out those balls - which is something he's starting to enjoy. YAY! A gift he liked!! (For at least the 4.7 minutes he sat there with Ed)
Brian moved into the den where our stockings were hung and wanted to check his out. He got a cool Christmas microphone which he held up to his mouth and said "Merry Christmas!" in his own "Mommy can understand" language!
He also got a couple helicopters...
And when he realized there was not much else...
...he quickly turned his sights on Gavin's stocking.
One cool thing that Brian got for his room is something called "Moon in My Room." Brian LOVES the moon and we often look for it outside before he goes to bed. This is a mini replica of a real moon that he can have on his wall and I can make it to match the phase of the moon outside each night. I hung it in his room tonight, proving that Mommy does indeed 'hang the moon' for him. (And everyone says, "awwwwwwww....") Here we are checking it out in the dark hallway Christmas morning...
We also put together his very first "big boy puzzle"...
...and he also got some new iPad apps which I highly recommend.
A book: 3 Little Pigs
and
His favorites, by far, are the first three. The book is exceptional - read by three little British children with incredible animation.
It took a while for him to notice with all the excitement, but finally Brian spied his Elf on the Shelf, "Scout", on his final day with us. He was sitting in the wreath that hangs right across from the Christmas tree! He was watching us open all of our presents!!
One of Brian's favorite Christmas presents was the Playskool Bounce Back Racer. Oh.Em.Gee. This was the funniest, happiest part of my morning. (One of them) You HAVE to see this - especially if you're feeling sad...
If you're wondering why you don't see my face in any of the photos - it's because I was still (and am still) badly bruised. There was no way that makeup - or photo shop - would cover it up. What can you do! Keep reading for news of today's plastic surgery visit...
Speaking of people who never needed (and never will need) plastic surgery - my beautiful mother. I went to pick up my Mom in the early afternoon after she spent the morning with my sister and her kids. She came back here to see all of Gavin and Brian's presents and they had a ball with her. She did a puzzle with Brian - learned how to make robots on his iPad - and saw Gavin with his giant snow globe.
Today I finally got to visit the Plastic Surgeon. Basically - he told me to wait it out. The "whatever it is" that's lodged inside my head is not causing me any harm, in his estimation. I tried to impress upon him that I'm sure that martians inserted a tracking device inside my head and I'm now spying on politicians (which could get very juicy!!) - but he didn't agree with me. He did say he could make an incision and go fishing for whatever is lodged in my skull - but that would just leave a scar. Glamorous stay at home Moms, such as myself, can't have scars. I politely declined. As for the headaches - and the weird numb feelings - he said that the light fixture hit me so hard that it likely hit a nerve that surrounds my eye. That feeling should subside with time. And the swelling that is right where the light fixture cut my head open? That will go down - and when it does, if I notice a foreign body sticking out then...I can call him. I mentioned that the timing of this "injury" was interesting - and he acted sympathetic. I said, "No- you don't understand! I've been looking for some way to disguise my dark circles for a long time - this was PERFECT!" He laughed and told me that I was 'quite the optimist.'
As a public service to all of my friends who have nursed babies and have ever wondered how much a simple "breast lift" would cost...I asked him on YOUR behalf, of course. $7,500. Start your sweet talking now... and let me know how that goes.
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