Merry Christmas!

Here are the highlights of Christmas 2012!!
I LOVE Christmas Eve if not MORE, than ALMOST MORE, than Christmas Day!

This is a tradition I have brought from my family and slightly embellished!

Kaycee is very happy about it!

A YUMMY Seafood Dinner!

Jug brings his family tradition (slightly embellished) to it as well!!

We added Prime Rib to the meal this year...and it will likely be returning in years to come!  Soo good!!

Everyone always enjoys and participates in the preparations,

as well as the consumption!

Our evening follows a pretty traditional schedule!

The reading and acting out of the

Nativity is all part of it!

Vector...was a new addition to the evening the boys added this year!

And of course...the unwrapping of ONE Gift!

I always say "it MIGHT NOT be Pajamas this year"...but it always is! ;)

Coleman:  "BIG TRACK!!!!!!"

The excitement level has always almost peaked for this picture...and it is all we can do to keep them to sit still for it!!

They did a good job! :)

Sometimes Jug has to take matters into his own hands!

Then the note with cookies and Eggnog gets left  for Santa!

(We always leave him a Pepsi in the fridge...just in case!)

Then its off to check Norad, out to see if we can see Rudolph, then all five of them piling into the little girls bedroom for our Favorite JOLLY OLD SANTA book and Twas the Night Before Christmas. 

It really is so magical...and I haven't had a year yet where I don't wish it could all last just a little longer.  That they would "stay this age FOREVER!"

I love that we are all together, without any other distractions, and can focus on the miraculous birth of our Savior, the love that we feel from him, and the blessing it is to have each other to share this mortal existence with.  For the opportunity we have to give to others, in trying to let other receive the Joy that is felt from feeling Loved.  It really is a little piece of Heaven right her on earth for me!

And then in what literally feels like a "BLINK OF AN EYE"

it's all over and the kids are up and ready to see if the Jolly Old Man made it here!

Almost looks like he left them a puzzling riddle this year!

But...he didn't....

Reed's new bat he hopes to put to good use this spring.

Abbie's new art center and scooter.

Kaycee's new soccer cleats she has never before so desperately wanted to wear and USE!

A long awaited Ipod for Janey!

And a new BB GUN for Coleman!

Then...off to church it was!

Merry Christmas Everyone...may the spirit linger a little longer for all of us this year!