Santa Came Twice!

Christmas Morning 2012

I confess there are some really nice things about being empty nesters.  But I haven't figured out, yet, anything good about being an empty nester on Christmas Morning.  Sleeping in you say?

I say, 'NOT!'

We get up earlier now than we ever did.

Going to bed early on Christmas Eve, then.

Again, "NOT!"

We wake up to an empty house.  A quiet, empty house.   No, sad to say, Santa does not come here anymore.

And there's a sorrow in my heart to say goodbye to that very beautiful magical part of Christmas.

But, we have found, Santa still comes.  And so we make our rounds, early, before many homes are even lit up (you can tell who has little children and who has not on Christmas morning) and gratefully land in the magical aftermaths of our Grandchildren's Christmas morning.  And apparently, this year, Santa came more than once - the day before at breakfast, and then again that night as the children slept.

 This year we arrived at Tonya and Brian's first - shortly after Eric found his stocking had been filled with delights during the night, and that inside wrapping paper there were THINGS - oh, wonderful things, like Thomas the Train kinds of things.

 

Brent and I had a delightful time watching him open many of his gifts.  It appears that Eric has a fascination with LIGHTS!   Especially lights that come with....

 CARS!

We could have easily spent all morning at Tonya and Brian's place.   Eric had so much fun with each gift he opened that he didn't have much interest in the next gift.  But the morning moved on and while we were playing with Eric, Bill and Stephanie's family woke up to find a living room magically transformed into PLAYLAND!  

So we moved on to find three giggling, happy little girls who loved, loved, loved the toys Santa left them during the night:

Karsyn's Dream Light (which I don't think they ever dream with while it's on - just too much fun to play with!)

Ashlyn's Christmas Smile

Sorry, Mom, right now I don't think the book is holding my interest.  Look at the toys I got, just for ME!!!!!

Kamryn knows the fun of a book...

...and the fun of that new puppy - Thanks Heather for the wonderful accessories!

And by the time we got to Mike's house, we found everyone either napping or ready for a nap - the bright bubble of Christmas Morning already losing it's steam...  well, actually they had been up for hours by the time we got there.  Lilly was well into the middle of her morning nap - so far into it that she very obligingly woke up for us.

These munchkins were more than happy to show us what they found earlier in the day:

Maddy is growing up.  She got a special Lollaloopsy purse to hold her special tiny things.

Lexi's Christmas was all about fairys.

Jack loved the noisy book from us - so did Lexi.

And Mike tried to figure out how to teach Jack to play the Angry Birds board game.  (Not sure that one ever got figured out.)

  

Lilly was still a little tired, but happy to open more gifts.

Jack got a double-guardian visit on Christmas Eve - Santa came, but so did the Tooth Fairy!   Congratulations, on winning your first lost tooth!

Ok, I lied...there was one really great thing this year about being empty nesters - we got to see Les Miserables on its opening day in one of the very first viewings of the day in Utah.  And Heather met us for brunch at Village Inn before the show and came with us.  Ok, I know it isn't a traditional Christmas movie, but we all loved it and cried and cried and loved it some more, and didn't even get a Christmas nap during it.

Back home, Heather stopped in to find out if Santa came to our house for her, because he didn't where she lives.  Kind of rough when Santa quits the rounds as we become adults... but there were a few presents waiting for her, including this fun necklace/earring set she got from her Grandma and Grandpa Hansen.   See, someone still has a heart for single homeless girls.

Later, everyone who had nothing better to do gathered at Bill and Stephanie's for Christmas dinner.  Maddy brought her new crochet kit she had received for Christmas hoping someone would be there who knew how to crochet and could teach her.  She was so in luck!   Edna worked and worked with her and Maddy caught on and by the time we ate, she knew how to crochet!  Yay!

Bright smiles from Ashlyn for her Uncle Mike.

And what good are Christmas PJs if you can't stay in them all day?   Cousins enjoying a quiet afternoon on Christmas day.

I didn't get many pictures at our dinner - mostly just enjoyed being with everyone.  And our Christmas afternoon blended softly into Christmas evening, with snow on the ground and happy tummies, and lots of sweet memories already there to take to bed with us. 

I guess it isn't so rough being empty nesters after all.   Especially if some of your children manage to work and live close to home.   (Sean and Linzy - we missed you and SO need photos of your day!!!!!!! and Dan, we missed you as well.  It always feels so lonely to know you are alone for the holidays - grateful, however, that you were able to give Christmas to some of your staff by working the day for them.)  Thanks, everyone, for sharing your Christmas with us and making the day magical for these old parents.