Christmas 2009

What a beautiful day.
I adore the feeling of Christmas, the happiness, the warmth...the tradition.

This is our traditional Christmas Eve Picture.
The kids were all dressed up for dinner at Grandma's. We got home just in time to open one present, get some cookies ready for the big guy, and read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

(This is our gingerbread house that the kids made...(just thought I would throw it in here))

So, on Christmas Eve night, the kids always get to open one present...the present is always pajamas and the kids know it, and love it! It has been a tradition since Karman was little. Then they go put on their jammies, and wear them to bed, and then ALL DAY on Christmas!

Then we got some cookies ready for Santa because we knew that he would be hungry by the time he got to our house. We left him some milk too, even though he told us in his letter that he has a hot cocoa machine on his sled now...Tyler thought he might be thirsty for some actual milk by the time he got to our house, and of course carrots for the reindeer.

We read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and got ready for the big night!

Then mommy and daddy wrapped what was left to be wrapped, and got a few other things done....and we headed to bed too.

The next morning...Santa had come!

The kids were so so excited!

They get to come out and open their stocking while we make our traditional breakfast.

Every single year we make breakfast rolls from scratch, and an egg casserole. It is so good, and the kids absolutely love it!

Izzy opened her stocking which was pretty good entertainment.

She's so cute!

She took to opening as if she does it every day.

And she was a happy girl.

She got it open, and this where she laid for the rest of Christmas morning...chewing away!

The kids had a great Christmas. Santa brought them each just what they wanted!

Among them, Karman got her high school gear, and a new MP3 player...

Makylie got her talking doll house, and Littlest Pet Shop toys...

And Tyler got his Imaginext Batman cave, LEGOS!

This was, for Tyler, the year of the Lego. He has discovered that he LOVES Legos! He got some from almost everyone, and he has been working non stop on them ever since...he even got a Lego Batman Wii game from Santa...

Daddy loves them about as much as Tyler.

It was a great year. I am so Thankful.

Kevin and I are trying to pass down tradition, so that some day, when the kids are all grown, they say..."I remember every year we"...or "I remember when"...and then hopefully hear that they were so important to them that they continue the traditions with their own families.

To me, this is a season all about tradition...and the richness that those traditions add to our family story. It is so important to me.

We have so much to be thankful for, and we are.

We hope everyone also had a wonderful Christmas,

and we wish everyone an amazing New Year!