Christmas 2009

The kids had no idea that opening presents a few days early this year was only the beginning of our Christmas adventure.

But before we got to the presents, we squeezed in a little Christmas fun.

The girls decorated gingerbread houses, which I’m pretty sure involved just as much candy going into their mouths as onto the houses. Frosting, M&M’s, gumdrops...and two very happy little decorators. I’m not sure our little houses would have passed a building inspection, but they were masterpieces to us.

There’s nothing I love more than decorating our Christmas tree with the kids. The twinkle of the lights, Christmas carols filling the house, everyone gathered around the tree...it’s one of my favorite parts of the season.

And our tree holds more than just pretty ornaments.

Every Christmas, Grandma Kelly gives each of the kids a special ornament of their own, a tradition she continues until they turn eighteen. Year after year, their little collections grow, and those ornaments find their way back onto our tree. Someday, perhaps, the kids will take them along to hang on Christmas trees of their own.

For now, I love seeing them hanging right where they belong.

On December 22nd, we gathered around that tree in our pajamas and let the gift opening begin.

There were Legos to build, new games to play, stuffed animals to squeeze, and one very happy little girl who discovered a brand new bike waiting for her.

Judging by the smiles, I’d say Christmas morning (or in our case, Christmas three days early) was a success.

But there was a reason Christmas had come early to our house.

In two days, we’d be packing our bags and catching an early flight to Utah on Christmas Eve, where we’d spend the next twelve days doing some of our very favorite things...

Skiing. Snowmobiling. Tubing. Sledding.

So we soaked up our little Christmas at home...the gingerbread houses, the tree, Grandma Kelly's ornaments, the presents, and all that excitement and then started packing for Christmas adventure number two.

Something tells me the presents weren't going to be the part of Christmas 2009 these kids remembered most.