Rules/Traditions: The kids must stay in their room until 7:00 a.m. We meet in the hallway and sing "Happy Birthday to Jesus" so the kids will remember, in the excitement, what the celebration is truly about. They can't go downstairs until I get down first with the lights on and camera ready.
At our house, Santa brings one big gift then fills our stockings and leaves them next to the gift so we'll know who it belongs to.
Hannah was THRILLED to receive her electric guitar w/amp! However, she's not so thrilled about watching the DVD of guitar lessons! Darrin has learned more on it than she has!
Hannah's big gift from mom and dad was a Nintendo DS, for which she paid half. Grandma and Grandpa gave the first game. She used some other Christmas money to purchase two more.
Haylee was surprised by Santa with electric drum pads. She always makes drum noises with her mouth and uses pencils to beat out the drums to music, so now she has something more "real" with which to work.
Her big gift from us was an iPod Nano. She was shocked as she hadn't asked for one. She'd casually mentioned the coolness of the idea a while back, but is too practical to ask us to spend that kind of money. We also got compatible alarm clock speakers for her room in hope that she'll wake up better to her music than my voice! Our deal with her is that we can borrow it any time and it doesn't go to school. Darrin bought "the family" a Bose iPod dock for the living room, so we've borrowed it quite a bit so far. Preston is fine when Bon Jovi comes on, but he'll change the song when it's Harry Connick, Jr. Hmmmm...
The kids got lots of movies from relatives, some of whom thought it was important to educate the kids on good '80's movies. These will be great for our Family Fun Fridays, but Darrin and I need to screen them for language before the kids watch them as we're discovering the difference in rating requirements back then!
Hannah's big gift from mom and dad was a Nintendo DS, for which she paid half. Grandma and Grandpa gave the first game. She used some other Christmas money to purchase two more.
Haylee was surprised by Santa with electric drum pads. She always makes drum noises with her mouth and uses pencils to beat out the drums to music, so now she has something more "real" with which to work.
Her big gift from us was an iPod Nano. She was shocked as she hadn't asked for one. She'd casually mentioned the coolness of the idea a while back, but is too practical to ask us to spend that kind of money. We also got compatible alarm clock speakers for her room in hope that she'll wake up better to her music than my voice! Our deal with her is that we can borrow it any time and it doesn't go to school. Darrin bought "the family" a Bose iPod dock for the living room, so we've borrowed it quite a bit so far. Preston is fine when Bon Jovi comes on, but he'll change the song when it's Harry Connick, Jr. Hmmmm...
The kids got lots of movies from relatives, some of whom thought it was important to educate the kids on good '80's movies. These will be great for our Family Fun Fridays, but Darrin and I need to screen them for language before the kids watch them as we're discovering the difference in rating requirements back then!
Preston was very excited to receive an electronic lightsabre from Grandma & Grandpa, meaning he didn't have to borrow Hannah's anymore. His Santa gift was an Xbox game and we gave him the other request, an Indiana Jones Lego set, which he quickly figured out was under the tree. Can't hide that sound of shaking legos!
He played his Xbox game the rest of the afternoon! Grandad was kind enough to read aloud the screens' instructions to help him.
"It's too early!" Darrin got a nice set of luggage from Santa, in hopes that we can use it on a getaway for our upcoming anniversary! (and don't forget the Bose!) He also received a hiking backpack & a watch that has a pedometer, pulse reader, and other health stuff to assist him in his workouts.
I've enjoyed my acoustic guitar. My one semester in college is a blurr and the DVD lessons are great. In addition, some favorite gifts were new bedding, a velour loungesuit, jewelry, gift cards and a dustbuster! Mine died years ago. I never knew that having one meant handing over more easy chores for the kids! Hannah used it to vacuum my car and did a super job!
We are so blessed. Another healthy year, employment and a roof over our heads is all we need. It wasn't a year with lots under the tree, but a few big things that will entertain and enhance our lives. We're trying to teach the kids that celebrating the Savior's birth also celebrates his entire life on this earth. We are striving to put His teachings above all things earthly. I'm hoping to find more ways that they can serve others and help the needy in this new year.
We are so blessed. Another healthy year, employment and a roof over our heads is all we need. It wasn't a year with lots under the tree, but a few big things that will entertain and enhance our lives. We're trying to teach the kids that celebrating the Savior's birth also celebrates his entire life on this earth. We are striving to put His teachings above all things earthly. I'm hoping to find more ways that they can serve others and help the needy in this new year.
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1 comment:
That's great, Jill. My parents gave me a guitar years ago and I've never gotten around to taking lessons. I really want to learn, but I just can't seem to find the time. What DVD do you have? Maybe I should give that a shot.
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