Christmas came early.

This year our family planned a trip to Virginia for Christmas to see our family. Peyton was worried Santa would not find him in Virginia. So he wrote Santa a letter to see if he could come early. Santa did not delay or disappoint him. He sent an elf to tell Mom and Dad that he would come early.

On Christmas Eve, Peyton and Annisten opened a gift and one family gift. It is a tradition to get new Christmas Pj's and a family game on Christmas eve. Then we eat treats and play the new game. Before bed we read the Night Before Christmas. Peyton told me that he was going to listen for Santa. Every little noise he thought it was Santa. He was in a big hurry to get to bed that night.

Corey and I waited until the evening before we brought out the family gifts. We wanted the kids to see them under the tree but not open them to soon. Annisten was crazy over the bows.

On Christmas morning, Corey is always the first one up. He goes around the house waking everyone else up. He has everything ready and rushes all of us sleepy-heads into the family room.

Annisten didn't really care about her presents. She wanted her candy and jewelry she found in her stocking. I don't think she even looked at the rest of her gifts. When we tried to get her to open her presents, she got mad at us. Eventually she calmed down and enjoyed unwrapping things. 

Peyton was the opposite. He was so excited, he didn't know what to do with himself. When Peyton first walked into the family room he just ran around in circles with excitment. The first thing he saw was the racetrack Santa brought him. He was absolutely crazy over it! When opening his presents, Peyton was so excited that his hands were shaking! He could barely unwrap his gifts.

He spent the next few days playing with his race track. We had to make him take time to eat, sleep, and use the bathroom! He would play and play with his track until he could not even hold his head up.

Corey and I love watching the kids eyes light up and the excitement they have over Christmas. Peyton and Annisten get so excited over every little thing from lights, cookies, Christmas tree to making things for others. Oh and of coarse presents. They love reading about the Christmas story every night before bed too.