{oh, happy are the children}

After being gone for about five days, we arrived home safely late last night.  Early this morning was spent doing six loads of laundry, taking down the trimmings on the tree, and tossing the poor wilted evergreen outside.  I also picked up and put away the mess we left after tearing into Santa's Spoils last week...all the while, the boys played nicely together and it was like Christmas all over again, with them pulling out toys and giggling and getting excited over the toys that made it known that they had secret hiding and moving parts.  Needless to say, I spent naptime folding and putting away laundry and making yummy Chicken Noodle Soup, to warm our tummies up.

We were very blessed this year, as we have been every year.  I don't remember a sad or lonely or deprived Christmas.  Even at 25 years of age, I've had 25 years of generosity and gratitude.

Some of the favorite gifts this year include:

Tanner & Taylor:  Their Bunkbed. 
(They could have cared less about the other two toys they got from Santa, which is fine with me.   In fact, Tanner and I were discussing the number of presents they received this year, "Did Santa bring you lots of neat gifts?"  "Yeah.  It was too much."  "Oh, so how many presents should Santa bring you next year?"  "Uhhhh...Four."  "Well, this year he only brought you two, so should he bring you more?"  "No." "Okay.  I'm pretty sure Santa can handle two presents.")  I'm so glad that we have room to grow...so we don't feel like we have to buy the world by the time they're ten...I can do two presents.  In fact, it was perfect.

I was so worried about the 'small number of presents' the kids would be getting.  Literally, they got to open three gifts each.  And there was a ladder behind the SIX presents that took Tanner at least 10 minutes to find.  I was so worried they would want to open gifts for and hour or so, but 15 minutes was just right for us.  They got little stocking stuffers like a pez dispenser, bath tub color tablets, and a toothbrush, and it was fabulous and it was JUST RIGHT.

Deanna & Ryan:  Socks (I know) and Sleeping Bag Blankets from my mom and dad.
(Funny, how when I was packing I was trying to find a pair of socks that didn't have holes in the toes or heels...and just scrapped the whole idea...silently vowing to only wear socks with my shoes and go barefoot in the house so I wouldn't be embarrassed...and low and behold, Ryan and I both got socks.)

Ryan and I decided not to exchange gifts this year, since we spent the Christmas Budget on the beds for the boys, and I must say, it was GIFT-enough to watch those little boys get so excited over so little!  Ryan did 'cheat' and bought me a wireless mouse...Thanks Honey!

We spent Christmas Eve with Ryan's Family in Rexburg.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity where ALL of his siblings were at his parents house, so we figured we'd take advantage of that even if it was my families turn to endure the holidays with us.  Christmas morning, after opening a few gifts at home, we drove back to Rexburg to enjoy Apple Pancakes (I had to bring a bit of my own family traditions so I wouldn't feel so down and out) and some more fun with cousins.  Tanner and Taylor really enjoyed playing outside with two cousins their same age, Chandler and Megan.  They were troopers and let our boys use their inertubes to go down the hill in the back yard...I think Tanner was in HEAVEN!

After a quick lunch, we jumped back in the car and drove to Chesterfield.  I could hardly wait to see my family.  :)  We had the most wonderful time, with a delicious dinner and an exchange of gifts.  I'll just say how blessed we are to have such a generous family.  All the gifts were perfect, even down to the book we needed to return (we need to get our copy out and re-read it).

Over the course of four days, we ate delicious food (Tricia, your candy is TO DIE FOR!) and laughed like we'd never see each other again.  It was simply fabulous.  It was glorious.  It's a WONDERFUL LIFE.

I'll rummage through the 13 pictures I took and see what I can find, just so I don't get any complaints about not having a visual.  :)

So, be it said, I hope each and every one of you found the Spirit of Christmas and enjoyed it as much as our family did.  

And here's to a Happy New Year!