Capturing Christmas

When we took our boys shopping a couple of weeks ago at the dollar store it was a lot of fun to see what they chose for each other and also what they chose for us. Brett couldn't wait for me to open my presents from my boys. My older boys picked the perfect gift... Milky Way chocolate bars (my favorite). Smiley picked out a candy necklace for me.

I think I'll wear it to church on Sunday just in case I get hungry.

At the dollar store Giggles picked out a toy motorcycle for Smiley thinking that Smiley would love it. Unfortunately, come Christmas morning, Smiley opened the present and tossed it aside saying he hated it because it had purple on it.

This happens all too often. That moment when your child opens a present and says something like, "that's not what I wanted," or "I didn't ask for that!" and you remember that you forgot to have

THE TALK

Where you remind your kids to be polite no matter what you get. So on the way to grandma's house after opening presents at home we had THE TALK in the car.

Then Sheriff opened his present from his grandma. I managed to capture the look on Sheriff's face when he opened his present from his grandma and grandpa. Keep in mind that he wasn't rude. He opened the wrapping paper and discovered this...

I saw the look on his face as he showed me what he got for Christmas. He didn't say anything and I was confused momentarily as I wondered why Roxy and John gave him Christmas lights. Then a light when on in my head and I smiled and said, "open the box."

He opened the box and to his surprise (and I'm sure relief) he discovered an iTunes gift card.

April was not as fortunate as Sheriff however. Her present didn't have a surprising happy ending. Her morning started out weird and ended weird. You're welcome! Her first present of the morning was a purple... well, we're not sure WHAT it is.

And thanks to the string pull I made sure that her day ended with another weird creature for her to take home (I'm sure she'll prank me with it later).

Of course April did not forget me. She found a hideous nutcracker at the D.I. to bring horror to my Christmas morning as well as a musical sock monkey that my kids can't help but activate every time they pass him. Thanks April!

So hopefully next year I will remember to have THE TALK before Christmas morning. I also hope I can find suitable friends for the purple and gold monsters. :)