Happy Christmas!

The initial reaction is one of my favorite parts of Christmas morning. Ella had been so excited she couldn't sleep the night before. We opened the stockings upstairs and she was even more excited and then when she came down...nothing. I like to think it was a stunned silence.



She quietly walked over to the bike and looked at it in silence. While Seth totally bypasses everthing else and went over to his book pile and brought a book to Grandma to read to him. After Ella tested the bike out she got more into the spirit and was ready to start opening things.



Seth couldn't care less about opening presents. Grandpa had just helped him open a sweater. Seth took off the second it came out of the bag. Maybe he was just incensed that his first present was a sweater. "Show me the toys!"



Finally, a present he could sink his teeth into. I'm sure he didn't know what it was but it had that new tent smell.



Once she polished off her own presents, Ella was all too glad to help Seth open his. Plus the fact that Ella was openinig them made them even more desirable to Seth.



After our house we went to the Nielsen's for more festivities. We had delicious orange rolls and Nana's famour hot chocolate. There was also all kinds of dips and chips and crackers and cheese and fruit salad and not to mention treats. I think I could have sat there all day, but the kids wanted to open presents. The picture above is everyone relaxing after the present opening. Sorry for the blurriness I am still learning to use my new camera. Ella got lots of art supplies, an amazing felt/velcro calendar like they have at preschool, and fun jewelry. Seth got a lifetime supply of all manner of cars and trucks.



As if we haven't had enough fun, on to the Rollins'. The kids filled wooden shoes with carrots for the reindeer and Santa left some goodies in the shoes as well. This is a tradition from the Netherlands where my dad served his mission. We did it when we were little. Ella was really excited about it and wanted to make sure Rudolph received a carrot too. Rudolph is her absolute favorite. She sings Rudolph all day long. A few days before Christmas it was completely foggy. Ella yelled "Santa will have to use Rudolph this year!"



Seth got this cute inch worm ride on toy from Chelsea, Chad and Grandma and Grandpa. Rachel gave him a really cool basketball hoop with balls for the tub, which he immediately starting dunking in. Chad and Chel gave Ella the cutest little snow white broom and cleaning supply set. There is a little bird that sits on the broom and sings while you work. I can't wait to put them to use. Rachel got Ella a dinosaur shirt that changes color in the sun. They had to test it out first thing. She's got her ensemble set for our next dino museum trip.



He also got this really cool fish tank light. He loves looking at the fish at the aquarium. Now he can look at them any time. He also got a lion punching bag which he enjoys punching and tackling. Yay for little boys!!



Ella got this cute hopscotch mat which we all helped break in.



Grandma Betty gave Ella and Seth Christmas outfits. Here is Ella in her beauty dress as she calls it. It looks especially lovely with a princess bike helmet for her new bike.



Ella with appropriate gear for testing out the inch worm. Ella told Grandma, "I am never taking this helmet off. I am so extremely safe!"



Chelsea and Ella making the gingerbread house. This is it before we had a deadly roof collapse. Is there an engineer in the house?

One of the most unique toys was this stomp rocket grandma found for them. They had a lot of fun with it! Best of all they can play it together!