Reviewing Christmas.

We'll pretend that as I type this the tree is still up, decorated and glowing. That the nativities are still all set up and that no one has stolen Baby Jesus quite yet. But really, it's all taken down, wrapped in bubble wrap and tissue and boxed up ready for the rafters and next year.

Some years it stays up longer than others but this year it was just that time. I couldn't look at tinsel or Christmas tree needles anymore.

We had a great Christmas, celebrating all month long. We celebrated with my family and J's side of the family two seperate Sundays prior to Christmas weekend so the weekend was our oyster. And while we have our own Christmas Eve traditions when the bigs are with their mom and I usually stand firm, there was just something about hearing my 79 year old grandma on speaker phone last week asking if I'd stop by my aunts house on Saturday.

So we did. It's an hour one way in the smack dab middle of the woods and we missed church but we did. And I'm so glad.

She's my only grandparent left and the way she makes you feel is out of a storybook, really.

Four generations.

There was a time where I could plug my camera in to the computer and 439 pictures would need to be uploaded but lately it seems I take a few pictures here in there. Christmas was no different, just a handful were on the memory card last night because really, how many pictures of kids ripping open presents does one need?

Our four. Christmas morning. There's a story about the Barbie Jeep recovered from the good ol' local goodwill gifted to E from her siblings, but I'll save it for another day.

I like to think that the lack of pictures mean that we were more present, that we were more aware of moments instead of creating them and most of all, that we were too busy having fun most of the time to be bothered by the camera.

We had a lot of fun. Christmas with four kids pretty much is the definition of fun. We spent the entire day pajama clad, assembling games and toys and playing and only left the house to grab coffee. We started the day early and ended it late. Ever since we made the decision to stay home on Christmas we have fully lived that up.

Oh, just one more picture left.

I didn't forget, I couldn't. Christmas Eve, my littles and I. Two of the{many} best gifts I've ever been given.

Hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright. And Fun.

Previous Christmas Eve photos can be seen here.