Christmas Morning

Mike and I stuck firmly to the 4 gift rule for the children this year.  They all bought each other a book, meaning they had 3 sibling gifts also, to open on Christmas morning.  I feel like sticking to the 4 gift rule has helped me to focus in on each child and choose items they'll really enjoy instead of overwhelming them with too much.  It's also been a slimmer budget year, so this helped us spend wisely and carefully. 
We do the rhyme
Something you want
Something you need
Something random
And something to read

The original rhyme is "something to wear" instead of "something random" but buying each child something to wear has proven difficult for us in past years because
 - one of our kids doesn't care at all about clothes
 - we do minimalistic clothing, which means I refuse to buy excess just to fulfill a rhyme if they have all they need.  Ha.

This year, as it worked out, 3 of our 4 did get something to wear but some years it doesn't.  Something random gives me freedom.  (wink)

Anyhow...
Christmas morning was really just kind of simply lovely.

Chore gloves...

His own fidget spinner!

Band-aids for her doctor bag.

Mia took this picture of her daddy.

Breyer horse

NATALEE....

{want} Spirit horse/rider set

{need} PJs

{random} Shopkins pocket toy

{read} Free Reign chapter books & an Usborne sticker book

XAVIER

{want} Game Boy

{need} Light Tracing board

{random} slippers, stocking hat, character boxers

{read} Bear Grylls books 5-10 and an Usborne sticker book

AMELIYA
{want} game boy

{need} Shopkins pocket toy

{random} Melissa and Doug Diner set

{read} Magnetic Phonics set & Usborne sticker book

{favorite book from Xavier - it has a necklace}

ZAYDEN

{want} Medic Rescue Bot

{need} sweat pants & Dizzy Super Wing

{random} Playmobil bus

{read} ABC train floor puzzle & Usborne sticker book

{sibling gifts} Super Hero books from Xavier

both girls chose PJ Masks books for him

The kids took time to enjoy their stocking stuffers and gifts.  A couple curled up with new books.  Everyone played with the Spirit horse set, and the middle two thoroughly enjoyed their Game Boys (even though they are older, yard sale finds, instead of new, "state of the art" ones).  After our morning together we got ready to go to Papa Curtis's and Grandma Num's for more fun and celebration!