Christmas Morning

We decided to make a few rules this Christmas. Nobody could wake anyone up before 6am. If they all happened to be awake that was okay, but NO WAKING ANYONE UP BEFORE 6! Camie came into my room at 5am and I told her she needed to go back to bed. I felt so bad having her do that, but experience has taught me that if my kids get up too early, they are super grumpy and they do NOT take naps. I wanted a nice Christmas, so I sent her back to bed. I am sure she did not sleep. At 6am Taneal and Camie both came into my room. I told them not to wake anyone up yet, but they could go downstairs and look around but they could not touch any of their presents. They could check out their stockings. So, they did this and Camie came upstairs announcing that Santa had brought her a guitar! She was so excited.
Since it was after 6am, I let them wake Danielle and Spencer up. Danielle woke up the instant Taneal whispered in her ear "Santa". It was cute. I told them to hang on while I got the camera ready. They all came tearing downstairs and excitedly opened their gifts.

It was a great Christmas. Taneal got some speakers for her MP3 player, clothes, a cool alarm clock that projects onto the ceiling, a messenger bag, Inkspell, and a few other little things.

Camie got a guitar, CD lessons, a camera, Flyte, shoes, and clothes. I know she got some other things, but they aren't coming to mind right now.

Danielle got a Leapster, My Little Pet Shop toys, clothes, and makeup.

Spencer got a camera, a remote control car, little turtle, lizard, and frog toys, a cool dinosaur shirt, and some books. The only think Spencer asked Santa for was a turtle and he was happy with a plastic one! Whew! Of course Spencer had been running a 103 fever since Monday night, so he wasn't quite feeling up to par. He was miserable. I finally took him into the Dr on Saturday and he tested positive for the flu and an ear infection. 6 days of a fever. Poor guy really didn't care much about anything on Christmas. He held onto the reptile toys he got and just wanted to watch Diego and Dora all day. I felt so bad for him.

Nathan got a car road map and cars, a big dump truck all to himself, and no clothes. He was happy with his dump truck and really didn't care about anything else.

It was so funny how the girls really just wanted clothes. Taneal didn't know what to ask for other then clothes. They also got some wii games to go with that wii they got last year that only has the game it came with. They got Mario Cart, The Biggest Looser, and Sing It.

They were all happy and I thought it was a little too much. I think I want to simplify next year, REALLY simplify and focus on the true meaning of Christmas and giving, not receiving. I know my kids didn't get nearly as much as a lot of other kids got, but after reading stories from President Monson and others and then watching my kids, I think I could really teach them some wonderful things to simplify. I'm going to have to think on that one a little more. I think I still want to get them nice gifts, just not as many.

I know there are a lot of pictures, but how can I possible choose just one? I have the cutest kids in the world.