It's dark, but we didn't have to get up too early...
We opened stockings and Santa gifts under the little tree in Cora's room this year:
Perhaps the funniest reaction gifts this year were James' Whoopie cushion (which he requested a long time ago, but had forgotten about, so was totally surprised) and Cora's bath bomb (she thought it was candy and I caught her right after she'd unwrapped it and before she tried to taste it...)
James was very pleased with the Lego Movie Maker that Santa brought him:
As was Cora with the baby Calico Critters that Santa brought her:
After stockings, we retreated to the kitchen to put the breakfast casserole in the oven and start the turkey outside in the smoker. James busied himself with his new puzzle (similar to the one we got Gramma last year that he loved so much) by the fire while he waited for us to return to the Christmas tree:
And then it was time to dive into the gifts from Mama and Daddy, Gramma, and Uncle Jamie:
Even the kittens got gifts this year - a cat hammock for under a kitchen chair and a "real" (not cardboard) box to snuggle in at the window. Cora helped them open their gifts:
After presents were opened, the kids got busy with their new toys!
Eventually the turkey finished cooking, with very little warning, and we had to scramble to get the rest of the Christmas dinner on the table!
Gramma was the only one who really got dressed today, but after a few lively board games and a few glasses of wine (or egg nog for those who enjoy such oddities), when Cora requested that I play makeover with her, I shellacked on the makeup and put on a "fancy" dress and crown.
(For some reason, I own a pair of "clip-on" earrings without the clip - they have these little compression knobs at the edges of the hoops. Cora took one off my ear and James said it looked like a bull's nose ring, so I obliged them with a little extra silliness before we all called it quits and went to bed!)
