Happy New Year!!

I just wanted to quickly stop by the blog tonight and wish all family and friends a wonderful New Year's Eve! Hopefully you get to spend it with your loved ones and celebrate and reflect on the good and less good times of the year that has passed.

We certainly have had a wonderful, eventful and exciting 2015 and we can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for us!

Lots of love and Happy New Year to all of you!!

Tomtegrot & Presents

Tradition in our house, "Tomtegrot" for breakfast on the 24th! The whole family has learned to like it, and it's a nice way of keeping something Swedish after opening the American Christmas Stockings..

I had put little presents by the kid's plates and I told them to open them at the same time in their lap so no one's surprise would be spoiled as they were all the same.

I didn't get a picture, but it was an angel ornament in silver with the inscription 

"Always know that you are loved!"

After this, it was time for the kids to open another present under the tree, before getting dressed and ready. Benjamin choose his present from Santa, the one that he had been wishing for on every wishing list this year. Somehow, he got pointed in the right direction while looking for a present to open.

The Transformer Optimus Prime!

Cassie found one from Santa aswell, and it turned out to be a hair curler/straightener!

Bella choose one present to open and it was from Cassie,

 a Dora Mermaid doll and a Mc Stuffins Doll.

Daddy helping Ben transforming his Optimus Prime into a truck!

It was so nice to have the "fire" and Christmas carols going in the background while we were eating and while the kids were opening their presents. It made it really cosy and the fire was sparkling and making noise just like a real one!!

Waiting Up For Santa & Christmas Eve Morning

After I finally got the kids in bed on the 23rd after all the excitement of Santa's Messages and getting ready with cookies and reindeer food, I went to tuck Cassie in for bed, and then I was soon the only one awake. Chris had an early morning at work, and was pretty tired when he came home, so he didn't last long. After getting the kitchen straighten up I was ready with what I needed to do for the next day. I didn't want to go to bed yet, so I was able to get a glass of wine and just sit and enjoy the "fire" in our "fireplace"! Don't you just love these Smart TV's where you can just get these things on the screen. With our without Christmas music playing at the same time. We had one running all Christmas, made it really cosy and "Christmassy".

I had to wait for Santa to sneak in so I could go and look the door. He managed to get here just in the moment when I went to check on the kids and tuck them in! When I came back out, he had already been there and filled the stockings and the floor under the tree.

Special ornaments.

Arizona and W

It was pretty nice to soak in the coziness and "calm before the storm" the next day!

Christmas Eve Morning, the kids were excited and came jumping up and down around 7ish..They were excited to see that Santa had been there and that he had had a few nibbles of our cookies and also that he had fed the reindeer the carrots. 

No time for Santa to eat all the cookies..

Stockings were filled to overload..

Chocolate and little presents.

Then after the stockings, we have as a tradition that the kids can choose one present under the tree to open. Ben had already picked out the one that Isabella had gotten for him, a Star Wars coloring book, Isabella choose one from Santa with lots and lots of beads, and Cassie choose one from Santa aswell, with a face brush cleaning set.

As if this beauty would need anything to make her more beautiful? 

But, it's a good thing with different brushes and massages for the face so she was happy!

Santa was sneaky and made sure to place some coal in each stocking! As a little warning maybe? These kids know that they weren't good all year, so a little reminder is always needed!!

While the kids were checking out their stockings, I started off with our Christmas breakfast. Rice porridge, or "Tomtegrot" as the kids know it. Something that I only do at Christmas, and it's very special. It takes a minute to cook, but the kids were more than busy checking out all the presents while waiting!