Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. We could not be more thankful for all of our wonderful family and friends. This year Christmas was riot because Lucas was SO excited for Santa. He was really into the idea and couldn't wait. We really tried to focus on the real meaning of Christmas and I think he started grasping that too. We spent Christmas Eve at my parents and it was the cutest thing because before he went to bed he cracked the fireplace doors and looked up as if half way expecting Santa to be on his way down. He was thrilled in the morning when Santa had eaten the cookies Lucas and Claire had left for him and Santa even left a note. Lucas is still talkin about the note. Such an amazing thing to see the miracles of Christmas through a child's eyes.

Picking out our Christmas tree, we had the perfect one in about three minutes. It is possibly the most beautiful tree we have ever had. Coming from the people who several years ago spent from dawn till dusk traversing the foothills to find the right tree all while our dog was getting invested with ticks...picking out this tree in a few minutes was just perfect!

Christmas excitement. We didn't get to spend Christmas with the Rietkerk's this year so we made a big deal of opening the kids gifts from them two days prior, we didn't want them to be so overwhelmed on the day of. We got them all dressed in Christmas jammies and had festive music playing. Lucas thought Santa had already arrived.

A Christmas Eve tradition, the kids get new special jammies to get ready for the big day! After Christmas Eve mass we always come home and have lasagna, get new jammies, and play a game or two.

Opening their gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. As you can see Claire is cutting four teeth right now so everything is in her mouth.

 

Opening stockings!

Chewing on ribbon, must feel good on the gums.

Merry Christmas.