Christmas Day! Part 2

Next came the fun part of the BIG reveal!!!!  The idea was to have a string that the kids followed around the house to different spots where clues/presents were that had to do with the BIG present at the end.  

 First to the mudroom for the clue: Something to count down the days on....

 Following the string around the kitchen...

 Under the keyboard bench - Something to keep all your papers in for the long drive....  Our kids are such nerds and LOVED these accordion folders!

 Down to the basement...

 Movies to watch on the long car ride...

 Into the girls bathroom - Something to wear when you go to the pool... New goggles!

 To Mom and Dad's bathroom - Something to wear between the pool and the....   New flip flops!

 Basement again!

 Something to wear at the BEACH!!! New swimsuits.

 Back upstairs to the piano room!

 Where they opened the hotel voucher paper - it just said the dates on it and that it was in Anaheim.  They were so excited that we were going to California!  ;)  Little did they know....

 On to Dad's office where they found glowsticks to wear at the parades....  (getting a little confused...)

 Last stop!  Mom and Dad's room!  They all sat on our bed and had one last present.  They were all little confused, and still didn't know where we were going!

 As they opened their lanyards with their ticket to DISNEYLAND in it - I don't think it all sunk in!  They have never been to Disneyland and really didn't know what to think!  They were excited, but didn't really know what going to Disneyland meant.  

 I also pulled out gift cards with $ on them to spend on souvenirs.  They were super excited about that!  

The Cox Family couldn't be more excited to go to Disneyland!  We spent the next 15 days watching and learning everything we could about Disneyland.  It was so much fun!

Christmas Day! - Part 1

Josh and I stayed up way into the night to get ready for the much anticipated Christmas Morning!  I had been waiting for WEEKS to tell the kids the BIG SURPRISE!!!!  Despite going to bed in the wee hours of the morning, at 6 am when the kids yelled down, "Mom and Dad!!!  We're awake!," I yelled back in my excited, deep morning voice, "I'm awake too!!!!!"  I had been awake for a bit and just waiting for them to call to us.  The kids always have to wait at the top of the stairs, while Josh goes and "makes sure Santa came."  That means he turns on the lights, I grab the camera and we adjusted last minute strings - ones we left undone just in case we needed to get through the house in the middle of the night.  :)

 Yellow yarn everywhere was quite the surprise when they came down!  But, they still didn't know what it was for!!!!

 Stockings first!  

 Santa DID come!  

 Kaley got a bungie chair.

 Thomas got an iPod shuffle.

 Bella got a CD player.

 Jace got a serious pack of wall balls.

 And this crazy Sophie girl got her Nutcracker (and ballet clothes for her doll.)

 More present fun!  We gave the kids a small thing from mom and dad and a couple little things.  They were told that this year would be different than years past - not as many presents.

 The kids always go to the dollar store and pick out a present for each of their siblings.  We've done it where they just draw one sib name, but they like it better when they do a gift for everyone!  These two got glasses!

 T and his PINK socks!  I don't understand his new obsession with pink, but ok!  We now wear the same size and same color/kind of socks!  Weird!

 Tennis rackets for the boys!

 Jade's thing from mom and dad was his own stack of paper, a stapler and tape.  He was SO excited!

That was the end of presents from under the tree!