A Christmas to Remember

This year we had a free Christmas! Well, not entirely free but pretty much considering what it would have cost us if we had paid for it. What do I mean? Well, I've become pretty coupon savvy and some might say that I'm a Walgreens expert... I think they are all silly but it's true, I know my way around coupons and Walgreens pretty well. I've been shopping deals (specifically money making deals*) at Walgreens for months as well as participating in sweepstakes and instant win games (all free of charge mind you). The combination of the two allowed us to "buy" almost our entire Christmas at Walgreens for pretty much just tax. Isn't that amazing? Well, as you might guess the selection at Walgreens is a bit limited but we got some pretty good stuff. Here are the hits this year:

• play tents/houses
• lawn mower
• Tinkerbell doll
• telephone
• Dr. kit
• tool kit
• Percy train (from Thomas and Friends)
• Playdough
  

So I'll give you the details of our days now. First let me say that the little girls seem to be teething which is never a joy and Jackson has run a bit of a fever and has been irritable, but those things aside we had a lovely couple of days.

It all started on an unseasonably warm and wet night known in these parts as Christmas Eve. All day long we watched Christmas movies and did last minute Christmas chores. We had a dinner of sandwiches and finger foods (less work for a busy day). After dinner we opened our traditional Christmas Eve gifts which consist of a Christmas movie and PJs. The movie of the year was Santa Clause 2 (can you guess what last year's movie was???). We donned our jammies and put the little girls to bed (it was getting late) put the movie in and settled in for a long winter's... errrrr cuddle. Finally the house was silent and all were tucked safely in bed.

Mrs. Clause had been very busy the night before, wrapping and preparing for the eve to come. So about 10:30 she ran out of energy, woke up Santa and told him that it was up to him now. Santa dutifully took over and, well the rest is a mystery (until the morning of course).

Christmas morning started at about 8:30 in our house, when the kiddie-kins all awoke at the same time and demanded our attention. We entered the room slowly and cautiously. (Just in case, you never know when Santa's going to bring you a pet crocodile!) Luckily there was no crocodile or living pets either! There was loads of stuff though!!! Toys and toys and clothes and well, you get the picture... I'm sure it was the same at your house if you were good this year. Everyone received their traditional ornament for the year. The girls got the same ornaments (there wasn't much selection on the eve of Christmas eve, haha): A big sister polar bear helping a little sister polar bear walk. Jackson got a fishing ornament since he caught his first fish this year: A daddy raccoon fishing with a little boy raccoon. Abygail has been in love with Tinkerbell this year, there were no Tinkerbell ornaments but there was a fairy ornament... that's the ornament for her.

After the festivities I got to work. Breakfast was our traditional monkey bread with a new addition of a sausage, egg, cheese and potato casserole. I think I spent more time on breakfast than on our dinner. Dinner was a ham, green bean casserole and salad.

We've all enjoyed our time together and our special 'miracle' Christmas this year.