Simplified Christmas.



Christmas morning.

With the exception of a morning visit from my dad on Christmas Day, it was just the six of us this year. And it probably sounds so selfish to say this but I loved it.

I loved the slow wake up and start of the day.

T and then M took turns coming into our room in the morning asking when it would be time.

H, who had spent his feverish night sprawled between J and I slowly realized it was Christmas morning.

E was bouncing in her crib and singing.

At last, it was time.

My words can't possibly convey how nice it was to slowly get up, to start the ham, put some sweet rolls in the oven and not have a time looming above us to get out the door to go here and there and everywhere.

We sang Happy Birthday to Jesus before we sorted the gifts and the kids opened one by one by one.

By the time my dad arrived the house looked as though a tornado had gone through. Wrapping and packaging strewn about. Baby doll furniture needing to be put together and games awaiting a read through the directions. Tags from new outfits and plates of half eaten eggs and cinnamon rolls.

We surprised the kids later in the morning with envelopes in the tree. Each found a crisp $5 bill. Their reactions were predictable.

E, clueless.
H, excited about "money!"
T and M, both baffled by it.

And then J told them the $5 was their snack money for a surprise trip to see Yogi Bear.

In the middle of the day on Christmas we went to a movie as a family.

We came home from the movie and our ham was about done so J and I heated up the potatoes and got the rolls and lefse and veggies ready and I couldn't help but think about how fleeting this time is.

How we all fit perfectly around our table now but someday we'll need more space for husbands and wives and grandchildren. {I know, I know, I was dreaming pretty far ahead.}

Christmas dinner.

H was there too, hidden on my other side.

Our kids wore whatever they wanted on Christmas though I love to dress them matching, this year there was no reason.

E wore her owl pajamas all day. T and M in new outfits for school and H, my little man, wore his suit.

H was still sick, today he is going on day five of a fever. It was so nice to be able to let him rest, to not have expectations or places to be. He was able to sit back and relax and watch Yogi Bear, he'd have a burst of energy and play Hungry, Hungry Hippos and then he'd sit back and watch Curious George Christmas and fall asleep for a snooze, something that in the past with the hustle and bustle of the day would never have been possible.

One of the best decisions J and I have made is simplifying our Christmas Day like this and staying home. Not splitting our day and our meals between families and racing from one thing to the next but truly enjoying the meals, enjoying the gifts and enjoying each other.

Here's hoping your holiday was just as sweet and simplified as ours.

The winner of the $100 Visa Giftcard from BlogHer/Kelloggs Pop-Tarts: #9 Lynde Foy

 

New giveaway up from Nestle' Coffee-mate over here.