Santa's Visit, originally uploaded by cheryl.
The good thing about having young kids is that you can fudge the rules. Mommy has to work this weekend, as she does every weekend, and that meant Christmas could have been tricky. But Daddy had time off from the fire academy today, so we improvised. Santa came to visit us last night, and the boys had their Christmas this morning.
Our tree didn't have a single present under it until very late last night. That was by design. Do you think three little boys would leave wrapped presents alone? Or that Sawyer could resist pulling off every single bow and lining it up? So Connor helped me put the wrapped presents under the tree late last night, just before the boys went to bed.
Mommy and Daddy also had a little work to do. With new toys surely on the way, the toy closet was already overflowing. We had to weed through the stuff the boys don't really play with any more to make room for the new stuff. So we have a big stack of toys in our garage awaiting distribution to some younger cousins who might enjoy them.
And that brings us back to our boys ...
Sawyer was up at 6, which is later than sometimes and earlier than others. He was led past the tree and the gifts into the sun room to wait for brothers to wake up. He went pretty willingly once dry cereal and milk were produced. Xander followed about 7:30 or so, and he went kicking and screaming. He could see the balloons - his gift from Santa - as he walked past. And he WANTED them. You know, RIGHT NOW. He also was given dry cereal and milk, so that we could get everyone up and ready. I had to wake Connor up a little after 8.
Both cameras were charged, so I started with the video camera (video later, perhaps). And then I switched back to the digital snapshots.
The twins could only see the balloons. Both of them were dancing underneath the fan, arms outstretched, begging to have them. We hesitated, knowing that nothing else would matter once they came down. We attempted to engage them in opening a few presents first. They were unimpressed.
Sawyer did bounce on his new exercise ball for a little while. Xander could not be persuaded with anything - not even finger paints or a new TAG book. He half-way looked at the alphabet cards - something included within another gift - but still wanted his balloons.
We gave in. And the twins disappeared.
Connor was still thrilled to open all of his presents and dig into his stocking. He also eventually helped open the last of the twins' presents, as they could not be enticed to open more than one or so apiece. Connor gleefully took over.
And it was over in a matter of minutes. The twins had their balloons, Connor was exploring a little bit of everything, and Mommy and Daddy were busy cleaning up the mess and starting on Christmas breakfast.
The boys are still playing - sometimes with different things - but mostly fighting over the balloons. They each want ALL of the balloons, you see. One or two or even three will not do. ALL or nothing. And nothing involves a lot of screaming.
Three brothers ... and not nearly enough balloons apparently. Just look at all the money that we - and Santa - could have saved!