~Christmas Eve Part Three: Baby Gifting~

Before I can remember my family starting doing sibling gifts on Christmas Eve. It gave us the opportunity to get excited about what we were giving each other and helped us appreciate the thoughtful little gifts from our siblings that could so easily be forgotten in all the excitement of Santa gifts on Christmas morning.

Over the years our gifts have gotten bigger and the need for a special evening has changed. However, this year I wanted to teach my babies the joy of gift giving. We took them to the Dollar Store and spent an hour helping them pick out individual gifts for everyone. It was so fun! The babies were so excited to give everyone their special presents, so much so that some were not a surprise as Alec shouted out what they were before people could even open them.

The boys waiting their turn, tired from sitting on the couch so long.

Yes, they may all in fact be wearing red t-shirts with communist references... Red, and festive, eh? That's my fabulously funny family for ya!

Erin and Ryan appropriately reacting to their gifts from my one and two year olds.

Alec giving Mike a tutorial on how his gift (a back scratcher) is to be used.

Nick helped them pick out some lovely smelling perfume from the Gap.

Gotta love that employee discount card for spouses.

We also helped Lyssa pick out and wrap a present for Alec.

Though he was very excited about DJ (from Cars), he was really excited to see her open the present he got for her. He was just sure that she would love...

Cinderella! He was right. Love at first sight.

Then we let the babies open Christmas pajamas (which sadly no one took a picture of) and got them ready for bed. Alec demanded to have his Daddy put him to bed, as usual. I'm pretty sure they had a lovely talking time, all about the Buzz Light Year Alec was hoping Santa would bring him that night. Meanwhile Ryan sang sweetly to Lyssa and tucked her into bed with sugar plumes dancing away in her sweet little head.