The Haul

I know Christmas is not about the stuff, but here's some highlights of our stuff. Our first present exchange was in Hollister with Tyler's parents.  I am very lucky to have both in-laws and parents who ask what I want and what the kids want for Christmas.  I took Denae's advice and suggested my mother-in-law get the boys these foam saber things called Mashoonga.

 

They are good for a household of boys who like to beat each other.

 

Tyler and his dad testing them out.

Such is having four boys.  And a husband. (Thank you Denae for hunting them down for us!)

My in-laws gave me a Macy's giftcard.  Brilliant!  (And they gave Tyler a saw, in case you care.)

My parents gave us our presents on Christmas Eve.  They gave Charlie a magic set, Max walkie talkies, and Bennett a Thomas Trackmaster set.  All getting good use!

 

 

 They gave me and Tyler cash.  Speaking of my mom and dad, here they are on Christmas morning--they have a tradition of buying their own gifts (my dad wraps up the same things year after year) and pretending to be surprised as they open them:

  

 It's been going on my whole life, and it was comforting to witness it in the flesh again this year. 

Christmas morning brought the final wave of presents.  Santa divides presents into piles at our house, and this year Benny had the cutest pile:

 

I was lucky this year because my kids didn't ask for anything specific.  (Well Charlie asked for a very specific set of Lincoln Logs for several months, then denounced them at the last second.)  Charlie reports that his favorite present was this cheap, crass "pooping penguin."

 

Max's favorite present (and the one I was most excited about) was a replacement Monkey Max.

 

He'd lost his beloved little monkey a few months ago and had been telling us Monkey was dead.  Now Monkey's "resurrected" and all is well. Yes Max also got a monkey costume that he donned immediately.  

The boys also got the Magnatiles so many of you recommended.  They really are fantastic.   

Charlie and Max each got a bank--and I think they look awesome together:

 

Charlie and Max got volcano and dinosaur model kits ( awesome because they are something fun to do and then they go in the garbage.) 

 

(Note--these were part of a Costco 3-pack.  I love Costco's toy section!)

Bennett was more excited about his new Thomas pajamas and shirts than he was about most of his toys.  He really just loved ripping presents open. 

  

 He was a lot of fun to watch, but it was a good thing he was not awake for the main present-opening.  I like things to go slowly and in order and he would have totally messed that up!

Tyler and I promised to keep our presents small (packable) this year.  

Tyler got a Garmin (GPS) watch, socks, and a Shutterfly book that I don't think he's looked through yet.  He gave me a Nordstrom giftcard, and then another Nordstrom giftcard because he realized I'd rather have that then the earrings he almost bought me.  He knows me well. I am saving all my giftcards for the brutal task of clothing my postpartum body in a couple months.  I hope Nordstrom brings in some big black cardigans for spring.

Phew!  That was a lot of stuff. So far I suspect only one real dud (Charlie's cheap microscope).  I am loving that the new toys have places to go and are getting used.  The requirement of getting things home on a plane is actually nice when it means you don't end up with one of these monstrosities collecting dust in your living room:  

Last Christmas.