Christmas

Instead of cookies, we leave out a slice of Christ's birthday cake for Santa.

We decided we would spend Christmas morning at our house, so we didn't have to worry about taking all the presents to Colorado this year. It was our first year doing Christmas morning in Oregon.

All of our kids got the same "want" and "need" presents this year. For their "want" they each got a Kindle Fire (our iPad died this year and we found a killer deal on them) and for their "need" they each got a case for their Kindle Fires. And in their stockings they all got slingshots with felt balls. I almost bought one for Corbyn in Greece, but didn't and he was disappointed, so when I saw a deal for them on Black Friday, I decided to buy one for all of them.

Logan's big Santa gift was a basketball hoop. Santa also brought him a couple Water Wow books and a puzzle and then in his stocking, Mickey and the Roadster Racers cars and mini Toy Story figures. He got a pirate hat, eyepatch, and pirate cape for his "wear" and an interactive Peter Pan book and a couple mini Look and Find books for his "read." From Grandma Lori and Papa George he got a Mickey car track and Pop the Pig (a game).

Grandma Dixie and Grandpa Mike got him a Buzz gun and the big talking Buzz. Both have been a big hit!

Peyton decided at the last minute she really wanted a Hatchimal from Santa. We lucked out finding one at Walmart otherwise she wouldn't have gotten one. That was her big Santa gift. 

Santa also brought her some play makeup and a few Magic Velvet books and in her stocking, a unicorn tape dispenser, nail polish, and an Ariel Lip Smacker. 

She got a fairy dress for her and Samantha as well as a fairy wand and crown for her "wear." For her "read" she got the Elephant and Piggie activity book and The Cookie Fiasco. From Grandma Dixie and Grandpa Mike she got a Trolls boom box and a princess art set. Grandma Lori and Papa George got her Just Dance (a Nintendo Switch game), the Enchanted Forest (a board game), and an Etch a Sketch Freestyle. 

Corbyn's big Santa gift was the Nintendo Switch. It was originally going to be a family gift from Santa, but then gifts got shifted around when Peyton wanted a Hatchimal at the last minute. The other two didn't realize it was a lot more expensive than their Santa gifts, so it worked out fine. He couldn't have been more excited about it!

Santa also brought him Mario Odessey (to play on the Nintendo Switch) and in his stocking, a Stikbot Gorilla and Pokemon cards. For his "wear" he got punching gloves and for his "read" he got the illustrated Harry Potter 3 and a Star Wars Look and Find book. From Grandma Dixie and Grandpa Mike he got a big Nerf gun and a Voltron figure.

From Grandma Lori and Papa George he got Sleeping Queens (a game), a Plants vs. Zombies set, and a couple Star Wars Lego sets (that he started building right away).

Santa brought me a new vacuum, a new Cupco cup, and the Disney Short Films Collection and in my stocking, a bread razor, a Wendy's Frosty key tag, and Princess and the Frog Tsum Tsums. I got a Belgium waffle maker for my "want," a Thomas Kinkade Disney calendar for my "need," a whole bunch of Stately Type shirts (purchased at 40% off on Black Friday) for my "wear," and Secrets of Disneyland for my "read." From my parents I got a new wireless printer (old one wouldn't print wirelessly anymore) plus some money and from Mike and Dixie I got an Amazon gift card.

Santa brought Rog new sheets for our bed and a new pillow and in his stocking, razor refills, fun work socks, and a Wendy's Frosty key tag. He got a SNES for his "want," white dress shirts for his "need," Stately Type shirts for his "wear," and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People for his "read." 

From my parents he got a griddle, Rummikub, and some money and from his parents he got a beautiful Phillips Family Tree.

After presents we had breakfast - Cream Cheese Lemon French Toast with Strawberries, Holiday Fruit Soup, and hot chocolate or wassail to drink. Corbyn's Stikbot Gorilla got posed on one of our mugs.

And by then, Peyton's Hatchimal had hatched.

Then it was hurry, hurry, hurry to get ready, finish packing, and get to the airport. Parking at the airport was full, so we had to take MAX to the airport.

With the snow we got on Christmas Eve, we were a little nervous our flight would be cancelled, but we didn't have any problems. After all our rushing, we had time to spare and ended up killing time waiting.

We made it to Colorado in time to eat a late dinner and have a quick Ugly Sweater Party with the whole Ririe family.

Flying on Christmas saved us some money and it wasn't terrible, but I don't think we'll do it again in the future. It just didn't feel like Christmas at the airport.