Christmas Day 2013

I'm skipping Christmas Eve for now because I'm so excited about today!
We woke up at 6:15 am. I got up at about 5:30 because I had to go to the bathroom so I ran downstairs to use Ruby's. She'd been up since 3 dozing off, checking her phone, getting a drink, etc. I fell asleep on one of her bean bags. Finally we couldn't wait any longer. We got Freestone up first, then Xanthe, Tolly, Ari, and Tizzy. We sat on the steps like usual while mom and dad made sure Santa came. Slowly we were allowed to approach the TV room where our presents waited. When I saw the room with all the displays of gifts I couldn't believe it!Santa did a dang good job! Everyone got what they wanted and the room was perfectly perfect, just like Christmas morning should be. Ari and I had a brown bag with tissue paper by our pile of gifts. We opened it and took out a screw driver tool thing. At first I was confused, then I thought maybe it went to the unfinished bathroom downstairs, to unlock it. But how could Santa have finished it so fast and without me knowing?? So we just kept looking at our other presents. I got the Olay face washing automatic cleansing brush, lots of paint and art stuff, chocolate, new canvas ballet shoes, a Godiva chocolate gift set, a printer/scanner/copier, sweater and skirt, and this cool portable charging home for my phone. You can charge it with a computer at home and then take it anywhere to charge your phone or Kindle and it doesn't need to connect to anything! That will be nice. And the printer will be awesome to have, we have a good one but it doesn't connect to our computer and I need my own.

                                   

 Finally my mom asked if we would use the screw driver. I started to lead the way downstairs to see if my suspicions about the bathroom were true. We got the door opened and..... my brand new bathroom was painted, finished, pretty and Paris-themed! I love it! The pale buttercup yellow and the white and sky blue and sapphire accents are happy and fresh. There are paintings of Paris and pictures of Paris from our trip. Ari and I are so excited for our bathroom. We've already put our stuff in it and organized the sink area to fit everything. I took a shower in it this morning and it's like having my own spa! Yay!!

And then, another surprise! We went in to Freestone's room where a big woven basket lay by his Christmas tree...with a dog in it!!
That's right. Our family now has a 4-year-old rescued chihuahua! Free started crying of excitement and partly because it made him miss our old dog Prestie. She was adorable but too hyper, and prone to accidents in our house. Now she has a loving family and a dog brother.
Anyway, his name is Don Carlos and he's soooo cute! Since he has some psychological scarring, he is really scared. But he is very obedient, cuddly, and nice. He is going to be an awesome reading buddy for Freestone. :)

 

                     

I gave my dad a 3 page letter of memories and thankfulness. He started crying before he even read it! I gave Freestone a test tube coated with real silver I'd made in chemistry, Xanthe I gave a cute new dress that doesn't need a T-shirt to wear underneath, Ari a sports bra (she was always borrowing Ruby's or mine) and some sparkly nail polish, mom some dish towels and Tolly some coins for his money collection. I tried to get Tizzy a cute Paris shirt from Old Navy but Rubes and I decided the mile long line just wasn't worth it, or moving fast enough

Now we're on our way to Coco's for breakfast and more gifts. I just love Christmas!! Merry Christmas!!

Well now I'm at Coco's for the second time. Breakfast was great and I got some fun gifts from Coco & Bill. We went home after Coco's to show Grandpa and Grandma what Santa brought us. We played with our stuff and I messaged my friend Olympe, the one we stayed with in France this summer. Ryan and Jennie and Izzy and Collin also came over and it was fun to show them our Christmas haul and chat a little. Now I'm sitting in Coco's computer room and trying to send Olympe a picture of Don Carlos :)

Traj doesn't really like dogs but you couldn't tell with the patience, nice look he's giving teasing Freestone

I gave Ari and Xanthe a makeover with my new makeup. Ari looks so old! She is gorgeous inside and out! And Xanthe looked just like Mulan with the purple eye liner and lip gloss :)

This has been an amazing Christmas!! I am so grateful for my family and for Christ.
Thanks mom and dad!