And Then There Was The Day After Christmas.

As I type this I feel as though my house looks like a toy store, and I am not exaggerating. Cars and fire trucks, magic kits and magnetix, furry dogs and cats that act as though they are alive.

You name it, we've probably got it.

Every year I feel as though J and I try to be more intentional with the gifts that we get for the kids. Making sure it's things they like, will use and sometimes even need. The kids are bombarded from every angle with things at Christmas from all of the extended family they have. Two homes and four sets of grandparents for T and M, makes for a lot of stuff. It makes me even more intentional with the traditions we have incorporated into our family, the stories we tell and the giving things we do. I don't want to go overboard at Christmas though I know at times we have, adding just this or that all the way up to the day before. I want to give, I want the kids to give and also receive but I want them to understand that while the gifts are nice, there is so much more in life than that and just how overly blessed we all are.

M is such a natural giver already, give her a roll of wrapping paper and she will wrap everything in her room to give away. She loves giving gifts and can barely stand to wait until someone opens it. Now if only she wasn't wrapping things like her dirty socks and old notebooks we might be making some progress on de-cluttering our lives.

I'm glad it's the day after Christmas. I had a lot of anxiety about the day, and felt ill prepared considering I hadn't really focused on Christmas in over a week. But it was here and now all our celebrations are done and I expect that our decorations will be put away shortly.

H and Grandpa sharing some lunch on Christmas Eve.

We spent Christmas Eve with my dad and trekked out to one of my aunt's houses for a bit. Then we picked T and M up that evening from their mom's. We got home, opened up our monumental Christmas Eve pajamas and sent the kids to bed. Then J and I exchange gifts. Thankfully I'd shopped for him weeks before. Each year we go through the same charade telling each other we don't need to get each other anything, yet we both get each other more than we need to. I know just how strange that sounds.

Christmas morning started early (H was up and bouncing at 5:30, M followed shortly after.) Needless to say our home was filled with wrapping and boxes by 7.

By mid-morning, we were at my in-laws having Christmas brunch and opening the first truckload of gifts for the day. If you think I'm joking about the truckload, think again. I am completely serious.

You know those old commercials 'this is your brain', 'this is your brain on drugs' well this is "me at my in-laws". Take it to mean whatever you'd like.
The usual Grandparent/Grandchildren picture at my in-laws.

By lunchtime we were at my dad's, again eating and opening more gifts.

Like I said before my mom had most all of her shopping and wrapping complete. It was such a bittersweet feeling knowing that these were the last gifts we would open that she'd picked out. One of Henry's many gifts was a monkey that you could record a message and play on it. As I opened it and pressed play, my heart stopped with hope that I would hear my mom's voice.

Grandpa Mike and Tyler, Henry and Madison.

By evening we were headed home and this was what you could see.

So now it's the day after Christmas, new thank-you's to write, games and toys to play with, snow to play in. One full week left of Christmas break for the kids and I, one more week of vacation time for J. Lots to do, but lots of time to relax, reflect and just be, too. Something we especially need this year.

I hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas and that you took time to enjoy and appreciate all the people around you and the memories you're making.