Christmas with autism

Was entertaining.
Gabe was the first to open anything. It was an action link set for toy story. Goes with the sets he already has, you attach them and they do a domino effect. He loves them, cause they do things and even better are toy story.
He opens it, smiles and runs to the playroom. I could see him from the sofa the whole time as he shreds the box and sets up the toy with the others that match it. He is in there for about 20 min.
Suddenly Gabe rejoins us in the living room, dives UNDER the tree and digs out another box that is the same shape and size of the first. Smiles again, not looking at anyone, rips it open and takes off to the play room again. We didn't see him for almost an hour this time!
Deze just wanted to tear it all open, no matter the name on the gift, and she didn't slow down to see what anything was unless we made her. We make them all open things one at a time to help relieve the stress of it. And we also take breaks while opening gifts for cleaning up so the clutter is not over whelming.
Deze stripped off her clothes several times during gift opening. She pulled down the tree at one point, was eating gift wrap at another.
But when she opened up her new bath toys...she stripped and went for the tub! Not a word from her, I caught up with her as she was turning on the straight hot water. For a fat lady I can haul ass when one of my kids needs me to!
We tried hard to make it as stress free as we could. Still ended up with more meltdowns then I ever want to admit, but such is life in a house with 2 kids with autism!