Yep, Christmas is over! And while I am just itching to take down all the decorations and reclaim my house from the wrapping paper and toys everywhere, I *am* trying to enjoy all that this season is and to soak up this very precious time with my sweet little family.
Our Christmas was good -- just our family (and then some friends for lunch and the afternoon). It is fun to see how different traditions from our families have been passed down and to see how we as a family have created our own. Isn't that one of the best parts of holidays? The tradition -- the feeling that no matter where you are, what you are doing, or what life looks like at the moment that there is consistency in parts of our lives. There are things that we can count on. There are things that just are.
A recap of the festivities...
Christmas Eve dinner has always been spaghetti in my family. Don't know why, but I love it anyway. It tastes good and it super easy. I think Katie enjoyed herself, don't you?
Then it was on the baths and gifts. In my family, we have always opened a gift on Christmas Eve. Well, to be honest, there were always SO many presents that we sometimes started a few days before that. And opened more than one. But, you get the idea. One thing we DIDN'T do growing up but something I have enjoyed with my kids is new Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve. Alaina is old enough that she remembered and so was super excited.
Now, I am not typically one for matchy-matchy stuff for my kids. But, hey, this is Indonesia and these are the ONLY Christmasy-type jammies to be found and it took me several hours and several stores to come close to finding their sizes. Katelynn was not included in this festive tradition because she has one of her own -- all four of my kids have worn the same outfit for their first Christmas. Yep, thankful for all springish birthdays and 9-12 month clothes on Christmas morning.

After presents came cupcakes for Jesus' birthday. This is a tradition passed down from Jason's family. I love the idea of a birthday cake for Jesus and we have done it in the past, but the problem always was that after eating a huge turkey dinner on Christmas day we weren't hungry for cake. So, we decided this year that we would start doing it on Christmas Eve. It was perfect.

And a candle to celebrate a Lord and Savior who WAS, who IS, and whoever forever WILL BE.

Then on to Christmas morning...
All the kids still snug in their beds (while visions of coffee and lots of it danced in my head)
A quick kiss from Santa Claus caught by the camera I had programmed to take pictures throughout the morning. A more "candid" look at Christmas. That would be foil in my hand -- I was trying to prep the turkey before the festivities got started.

One cute little dude with serious bed head

Sweet miss Katelynn and her Santa Claus Daddy who didn't think he had to smile because "no one would be able to tell."
Three VERY happy kiddos riding new bikes and falling and crying at oh, I'd say maybe 6 o'clock in the morning.

Every year we read the Christmas story before opening gifts and let the kids "act it out" using their LITTLE PEOPLE nativity set. One of the best purchases we have ever made. I love having a nativity set that they can play with!
Miss Katie is supposed to opening her first gift, but really, she would rather just crawl on top of it.
Alaina, the card-making queen, reading her sweet card to Levi
Levi the basketball superstar goes in for 2 (and if you look closely at his rear end you can see that he must have sat on some tape or something because his pants are sticking together! LOL!)
And saving the best for last -- a popcorn maker! Oh how we have missed popcorn and oh what I wouldn't give for microwave popcorn that didn't cost over $1 a bag!
It was a wonderful day and it reminded me, once again, how precious these people are and how blessed I am to call them mine.
Hope your Christmas was sweet and blessed as well!
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