A Really Fun Christmas!

We are wrapping up the Christmas season feeling tired but so full!!! I just mostly want to remember that this seemed to be a magical year for Nathan. He seemed to really feel the magic of this season, understanding our Lord's birth and feeling overwhelmed with excitement almost all month. He would run to open the Advent calendar door every morning and worked so hard at being patient.
The tree went up the day after Thanksgiving. I was fun to have Grammy and Poppy share in the joy of preparation. I really tried to decrease the stress the stress this year and I didn't feel a rushed as in past years. My favorite thing to do is turn off all the lights in the house other than the Christmas lights and sit in silence after the kids have gone to bed. So peaceful and beautiful.
We did things a little different this year. We decided to stay home on Christmas eve. I want my kids to start making memories of waking up Christmas morning in their own home (and it's a lot of work to haul everything out to my parents). I was so excited that my family was on board. They came in to our church that day for Christmas Eve Services and then we had dinner at our home. We headed to Kiowa mid morning on Christmas day.
Nathan was really excited about Santa this year (Whitney was terrified when she saw him but loved her gifts of course). I customized messages from Santa on the internet (portablenorthpole.tv), I think Nathan watched his at least 10 times. We went caroling at with the Coy Family, a first for the kids. Nathan loved Charlie Brown Christmas and they both liked playing with the 'What God Wants for Christmas' nativity. We made our annual sugar cookies and Nathan was elated to pick out special ones for the big guy in red. Santa brought Nathan 'Flo's cafe' from the movie Cars and Whitney got a 'baby bed' (cradle for her dolls).