I really liked the movie, even though it's been far too long since I read the book. Some of the songs were really fun and well-performed and I thought the actor who played Bilbo did a great job.
After lunch, we all went to the park and to put our feet in the hot tub. The kids ended up taking their clothes off and swimming in their underwear. It was all fun and games until Dalton fell of a step and John had to get in with his clothes on and rescue him.
Santa came (though it's 5:45 am and the kids don't know it yet). He was smart enough to preassemble gifts before dropping them off at our house, unlike many other parents I see posting on Facebook. Of course, our kids aren't snoopers, so we're allowed to get away with some things other parents may not be.
Looking forward to the bustle of a Christmas morning with two kids who know what's going on. And maybe getting another hour's sleep first. 
Tue Dec 25 2012 05:49 Christmas Prep:
On Christmas Eve, Rachel watched Maggie and Dalton while John, Leonard and I took Sienna to her first movie, The Hobbit. She was so well-behaved! She nursed, took a long nap, nursed again (it was a long movie).
It took the kids a while to notice their scooters because Santa left them in the entry way and they were busy being amazed at the bulging stockings and the presents that had multiplied under the tree (we had to wrap half the stocking stuffers, as always). Maggie acted embarrassed and shy, I guess that Santa had actually given her what she wanted. After a few rides around the kitchen, the kids got busy with their stockings. They had treats, toothbrushes (and socks and clippies, which Maggie also asked Santa for) but not too much "stuff".
We had a yummy breakfast, premade by Leonard the night before, then dug into the presents. We made the mistake of not labeling some of them, which added to the fun (some of the stocking stuffers were misplaced as well). Rachel brought tons of books for the kids, including some sticker books, dinosaur books, and London taxi and London bus books, and a London underground train for Dalton. Leonard bought both of the kids shirts at the natural history museum. A PINK dinosaur shirt! Dalton's glows in the dark. Very cool. We got the kids Disney prints to hang above their beds. Maggie got Winnie-the-Pooh and Dalton got Dumbo, although Maggie says she likes Dalton's better. They also got Angry Birds shirts, a train tunnel for their train set,and some other miscellany. We tried not to buy them too much, and I think we succeeded, for once.
I got a long-sleeved shirt I love, new socks I needed, a cute little penguin purse, fancy sea salt, lots of candy, Amazon Mom membership, and really, super awesome, big, soft TOWELS. I think John is a bit embarrassed to have gotten me such an unromantic gift as towels, but they are exactly what I wanted and I LOVE them.
Sienna did not get a single Christmas present and she didn't seem to mind one bit.
We went swimming in the afternoon, since our trip to the hot tub yesterday was such a success. The kids played in the kiddie pool for nearly an hour, then we headed to the hot tub until Sienna woke up. I love California. Tue Dec 25 2012 20:52 Christmas is Here:
What a lovely Christmas that ended with snuggling my lovely baby. I guess it started that way, too. Maggie got into bed with us (both the kids are sleeping on the floor in our room while Leonard and Rachel are here) at 7:30 and played Angry Birds with John for an hour before even asking to go downstairs. And it wasn't presents she was after when she did ask - it was breakfast.