Christmas morning

David has insisted since Carmen was little that we celebrate Christmas morning at home so our kids will have memories here too. This year was the most fun yet!On Christmas morning, guess who was the first one up? No, not Carmen. No, not Gabriel. No, not Paloma. One of the two who were up until 3, you say? Now guess which one. That's right, the one who is not pregnant.
David was so excited about a certain gift that he couldn't sleep in, even after we'd stayed up so late getting things ready!


Gabe found that Santa had left him 3 Chevron cars including the Tony Turbo he's wanted for a long time.
Carmen seemed happy about the Groovy Girls that she received.
And Paloma squealed, "My new baby sister!" when she saw this new plush doll.
Also, the kids found that Santa had brought them a Candyland train set to share. They enjoyed that for a little while, then we decided to go have pancakes for breakfast.

But first Carmen and Gabe found a plate of partially-eaten cookies and a empty milk glass as well as a note.
Soon thereafter they discovered their stockings. Paloma was thrilled with her "wellow" candy cane (she, like Mama, likes yellow everything).
She had a new Dora toothbrush to go with her yellow m&ms, and she wanted to wear her Crocs once we got the new Jibbitz in them.
Then she insisted on reading a book. Because Christmas should be no different than any other day in that regard.
Then it was back to the living room to open gifts to and from each other.
P loved her soft, noisy Rudolph.
Gabe got the coveted Curio Shop he first spied in California last year (he's always called it Mater's Junkyard, which is a part of it) but we didn't buy then--at retail price instead of 3 TIMES that--because we didn't want to pack and carry it.
Carmen got a 300-piece Little Mermaid movie poster puzzle
and an Abuelito doll
Gabe was stunned to get a Lightning McQueen ornament
and very curious about the dartboard. (He had been making up his own type of dartboard with Paloma's blocks and a cardboard box, setting them up and throwing things at them, which had been making me nervous.)
Carmen got the companion Clarice that went with Rudolph.
Later she posed with all of her favorite things, including the tent for her bunk bed.
But the present David couldn't wait to share was what he'd been putting together for months.
Everybody got into this one!
Yes, that's it--the Pixar movie Cars cars.


Twenty-six of them! And a new carrying case to hold them, too. Gabriel and David were both beside themselves.

Next it was time to go back to Gigi & Hidy's house for a traditional Christmas dinner (for lunch).