"I think I just missed him".....

Christmas Eve night we got back from Deke's brothers house fairly early. Keeping the blinds shut so as not to reveal the new surprise we all got in jammies ate some goodies and watched Mickey's Christmas Carol all snuggled in blankets. After cookies, carrots and milk were set out and reindeer food had been sprinkled across the front yard it was time for bed. As we tucked the kids into bed they each reviewed with us their plans for the upcoming night. "Okay Mom, if I see Santa I will tell him to hold on I can't go on the sleigh with you until I tell my mom where I am going" Avery reviewed with me for the millionth time that day. "Then I will go in and wake up Hunter so he can go with us, and I will make sure that Santa knows to bring us back home." "But Mom I don't think that Santa is going to be able to fit a playhouse into his sleigh for us, and how will he get into our house tonight, maybe we should leave the back door unlocked." Reminding her that I have never see Santa myself I reminded her that he is magic and that he would find a way. "I'd better hurry and sleep mom so I am not sleepy to go on Santa's sleigh tonight" she added and then pulled her covers up and rolled over. I walked over to the crib. "Emma is Santa going to come to your house?" "Ho ho ho" she said and smiled up at me. "Is he going to bring you some toys?" I asked her. She nodded at me and then blew me a kiss giving me the hint that she was ready to sleep. As I headed to Hunter's room I could hear that he was already in deep discussion with Deke. Santa had told him in his letter that weather permitting he would be in Arizona between 3-4 am. Once his request to sleep out on the couch was denied, Hunter asked to set an alarm for 3 am and then have Deke or I wait up with him to see Santa. Knowing how anxious Hunter has been this year and his deep desire to see Santa Claus, we agreed and set the alarm for 3am. You know the line, "not a creature was stirring.." well that was the case at the Burch household until in the darkness right in my face I heard Hunter's voice. "Moooooom, Moooooooom, in an excited attempt at a whisper. "I was laying in bed and then I heard noises outside and then up on the roof and then a door AND THEN I heard someone say "Dash away, dash away, dash away all." He finally took a breath, then continued... "So I ran out to the tree and Santa already came, I think I just missed him!!!!" Trying to stay coherent enough to respond I sat up to find glasses and see the clock. 2:02 am he had woke up before the alarm and now having seen the presents that were around the tree he was too excited to sleep. After twenty minutes of excited discussion about what he had heard and what the packages looked like and guess what there is little couches out there under the tree etc. etc. I hope to remember these moments of Christmas and the magic of Santa for years to come. I finally made the decision to make a bed for him on the floor next to me and told him to go back to sleep. After much fidgeting he finally settled in until eight am when Deke and I then happily agreed to get the girls up and start Christmas morning. After all the excitement of the playhouse which made this year my favorite Christmas yet we headed inside to open other presents. Grandma Tobar had sent an adorable princess couch and chair set with a little ottoman. The girls are in love with them. They sat on them and opened all their presents. We always have our kids open one at a time and watch each other and our kids are really good about being patient and actually get really excited to watch each other open. They will run over and hug each other or say "yay! you really wanted that" or other cute things to show excitement to each other. The kids had a really nice Christmas this year here are some of the things they got from Santa. Emma got some play food that you can cut and then it velcros back together.... A baby vaccum cleaner from Grandma Burch....
Hunter was floored when he opened his present from Grandma and Grandpa Burch and saw that it contained his very first real microscope!!!! It rocks. It cracked us up when he opened it his eyes got wide and he looked it the camera and just kept shouting excitedly, "How did they know? how did they know?" It is really cool, it has five prepared slides and a whole box of slides to be used, specimen jars and tools to dissect things. Different dyes to put on the slides to see different things, vials and tweezers and different magnifications and yes right up this scientists alley :) :) To see Hunter get this was really neat for Deke and I it was very special for him. Hanging out stopping to play with present before going on to open more....Emma got a puppy that when you pet it it barks and then starts walking towards you. She LOVES it. It is hilarious to watch her giggle when it starts walking towards her. She gets laughing so hard she can hardly breathe.... Hunter's bow and arrow...Avery's doll that she can hairstyle that is named Avery too according to the box to Ave's delight... Hunter's CSI fingerprint analysis kit which includes actual fingerprint lifting powder and tape to lift prints, fingerprint cards and black light to find prints on surfaces. We are going to be having so much fun with this one. I see a mystery brewing at the Burch household..Ave doing a little ironing with the new ironing board...The kids driving Ave's new pet shop remote control car around the kitchen..The kids spent all morning playing in the playhouse, shooting the bow and arrow, driving the remote control car and having fun with their toys. Deke made us some rockin pancakes for breakfast, he made little house pancakes for each of the kids...he made me a penguin pancake..then made himself an elk pancake, which is pretty sweet! We seriously vegged and played with the kids until late afternoon when we headed over to Grandma's house. This year was definitely my favorite yet, with the playhouse for the kids especially the girls and the microscope for Hunter. With the biggest excitement over Santa yet and just a very very special Christmas morning with us only with the kids as our little family. My favorite one yet. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!!!!