Before:
After:
Yup. Presents were opened and children (all but one–do you see him?) cleared out of the livingroom by 7am. Rich and I wanted it to last longer, but there was no holding them back.
After a while, in the midst of the children’s playtime, I made them all sit for pictures…with their favorite gifts.
Grace, with her new doll Nellie:
David, wearing his new superhero get-up, oh how I love this picture! It makes me laugh and laugh—quite possibly (now that I think about it) not the reaction he wanted.
Here’s another, because I can’t resist:
Caleb, and his new trains:
And, other of him too, because I can’t resist and it makes Caleb and I both giggle:
Jake and E, with their new legos and other stuff:
The white sheet as backdrop? Totally blocking a room of mess. . . . . . .
A couple random shots:
I liked this picture, all the kids are in it and sitting still.
Rich took this one without me asking him to. He said I looked cozy. He always spoils me for Christmas, and this year was no different. In this photo, I’m looking through a new cookbook.
My absolutely favorite gift? A Christmas card with a list of dates for the year that he took off from work. . . . already scheduled vacation days, so that he can be in charge of the kids and I can have free days just for myself to look forward to. I couldn’t even speak, I was so touched. I was choked up, all I could say was a shaky, “Can I have a tissue please?” My first day off is January 20th. 
The Godiva truffles and hot cocoa mix, Kitchenaid mixer ice-cream maker, books (one of which is linked at the end of this post), a gorgeous floor lamp from Pottery barn, information about two mission style end-tables on order from our favorite country/furniture store (for our bedroom), and big bag of loot (including the dearest *MUSHROOM salt and pepper shakers*) from Anthropologie were also greatly appreciated and squealed over.
Merry Christmas!
Good to be Home 
So glad to hear you all had such a nice Christmas over there š I love the pictures of the kids with their “loot”. I too was spoiled this year, I’m typing this from my new midnight blue laptop š Hope you have a lovely Christmas night. Love you!
Loved the pictures! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Rich planning days for you to have “off” is sweet beyond words! The pictures of Davy made me laugh too! The superhero outfit is perfect for him! Hope you are having a delightful evening!
That’s so cool! Your kids look happy with their presents and the whole family looks great. Merry Christmas!
Much of the fun of opening packages is the mess it makes of the entire room! Is that Rosie on the right hand end of Caleb’s trains? I hope David doesn’t think he can fly in that superhero outfit! It looks as if everybody received just exactly what they wanted! Merry Christmas…
Looks like you and your family had a Merry Christmas!! Cute pictures!!
Merry Christmas!
I love the before and after pictures! Looks like you and yours had a wonderful Christmas!
I want to hear more about the Cookbook!
Sounds like much fun!
I seriously don’t know how you do it young lady…all this glorious fun but still a full day..and you found time to post this delightful memory!God has certainly blessed your day
WOW…. what an amazing gift your husband gave you! That almost brought tears to MY eyes! Thanks so much for sharing your Christmas morning with us – so many blessings! š
Merry Christmas to you dear Xanga friend. God blessed me with my first set of Fiesta dishes today.
My parents have had the rudest awakening…all but one of their children are married and out of the house…time goes so fast! Enjoy this time while it lasts, cause in the blink of an eye, it’s gone…
I gasped at the after picture. WOW! Then I chuckled over Davy do and Caleb with his trains. Of course the older children are more sedate! You make me love your kids with your great pictures and descriptions, and I don’t even know them, really! Glad you got some special gifts and pampering. How nice that you have some special days to look forward to like that. Sometimes knowing that is what helps you keep it together! LOL! Blessings!
What a wonderful gift! I think every man in America should read your post and the jealous comments.
I hope you will share from that book you linked!
oh what a heart warming Christmas post! it made my heart smile and is prompting me to get off the computer and go soak in my kids and all our goodies we were blessed with…
awe! your kids are adorable! glad you had a great christmas (: enjoy your days off, too!
Adorable! And what a first rate hubby you have!! love, Gail
I got the biggest kick out of your “after” photo! I would be afraid something is missing in the piles š I have to tell you that I have tears in my eyes after reading what Rich did for you! I dont get choked up often but that did it for me as well! You are a lucky woman. I do have to give Rich a compliment for truley ‘listening” to you even though you may never say outloud and knowing exactly what you need/want. Most men can only hear, but few can really listen and you have one of those! Enjoy your weekend~ amy
What a great day and good memories and a big mess. Enjoy your gifts!
wow, they are lovely children!
Aw! How happy everyone looks! I would’ve been speechless too but how thoughtful and loving! Love you, Lish
What a wonderful gift from your husband! Love the pictures. Let me know how you like that book…I’m tempted to get one for myself!
Thanks Shanda! I wish she were not so far away. Is that you playing your piano? It is beautiful. Albert
Great pics! Looks like a wonderful Christmas.
I have a before and after picture posted today – but yours beats mine!!!You know what? Annamarie has the doll Grace is holding, Samantha. It used to be Stephanie’s (about 25 years ago) and I passed it down to Annamarie last year. AND, the nightgown Grace’s Samantha is wearing is the same gown I found at a thrift store for Rissy (child size, not doll size) earlier this year for $2.99! A steal, huh?!!!I love Rich’s days off card. How thoughtful!
Amen to God’s goodness. Love is wonderful. Jesus changes everything for the better.
Christmas blessings and hugs to you and your family. Bob
you always make me smile – from the WONDERFUL after picture (just love that!) to your adorable little super hero guy!! the warmth and genuine love in your home is so obvious. glad you had a happy.happy christmas day. i opened your site last night to read, but was interrupted when my hubby came in from playing basketball w/ a broke nose!!
all is fine now – but it was quite a mess!got the absolute sweetest note this afternoon from Handel’s Lane. ā¤ thank you my dear~ {{hug}}
So wonderful to see your happy Christmas day with your family. Love the super hero Davey…I have a few treasures like that. We call our cute little guy next door “bandana man” because he has been seen wearing a cape made out of one . Love seeing each one with their gifts…and you too! Caleb is so funny, the boys warm my heart, and Grace just lovely with her dolls! Thanks for the prayers…will be posting soon on our time this week with Bob’s parents. Nana is home and doing a bit better each day. We are enjoying a bit of a rest while is brother is here for a few days. blessings, Jenny
What a lovely Christmas. And your gift, WOW, how creative, and thoughtful of your husband! I think it should be posted on adventconspiracy.;)
Grace’s pictures in your previous post are so adorable. She’s beautiful!
great pictures. It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas. C (age 4) would love those trains. He loves those type of things. Grace looks like she is about S’ age. S is 7 (almost 8). You got a lot of really great pictures.
It looks like you had a great Christmas! One of our daughter’s got Julie as a present from AG. I like the before & after:)
I looked through that book and did not write the title downa nd have been looking for it ever since!!
I love that he came up with the idea on dates for you, it is so so so your love language! I did not see the kid in the picture and would not have seen him if you did not tell me to, it was like finding waldo. I think it took me five mins to find him! LOL! What a great idea to take a photo with the kids with the best gifts, it will make a good memory when they are older.
Aww! You have the cutest Superhero!! š The pictures are great, and it looks like you guys had a blast opening presents! š Prayers for a Blessed New Year!Melody