For the first time in our marriage, we spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at home this year. We love the time we get to spend in Marysville and Stow and nothing makes us happier than time spent with family at the holidays, but we decided long ago that once our kids were old enough to really get the whole Christmas thing, we would make every effort to wake up in our own home Christmas morning. Avery is definitely old enough to "get it" this year and we wanted to soak up that time with her and Norah. What a special morning! Erich had to work a 12 hour shift on Christmas Eve (Hug a healthcare worker next time you see one - they sacrifice a lot to take care of your loved ones!), so Avery, Norah, and I spent a quiet day at home watching Christmas movies, preparing some food for a special Christmas morning breakfast, baking cookies, and writing a letter to Santa. It was a fun day, although Daddy was missed. That night after he got home from work and the girls were sleeping, Erich and I sat next to the fire, sipped on eggnog, and exchanged our gifts by the light of the tree. We've made that special time an annual tradition and it's a welcome chance for us to sit, talk, and connect in the midst of a busy holiday traveling schedule. I cherish that quiet break with my husband! Christmas morning we woke up bright and early to the sound of Avery saying "Merry Christmas!" over the baby monitor. She must have been excited because it was 6:30, at least an hour before she usually wakes up. Enjoy some pictures of our family Christmas... pajamas, bed head, and all...
Running downstairs to check it out
Honest to goodness, Avery didn't even seem to notice the enormous lump covered with a sheet. Wonder what could be in there?
First things first... before touching any presents, we sat and read the story of Jesus' birth. Someday we will read this straight out of the Bible, but for now a board book is a little more realistic.
Examining the evidence. Santa was here!
Avery and Norah's stockings have a pocket on the front to leave a letter for Santa. We left a letter for him on Christmas Eve and he wrote one back! What fun!
So that's what was under the sheet! A play kitchen for Avery (and Norah when she's big enough). Avery spent the whole morning serving us cup after cup of coffee from her kitchen. She knows what Daddy needs at 6:30am!
We are so happy to have this little angel in our family!
We finished off the morning with an egg casserole breakfast, then we packed back up and hit the road to go spend a couple of days in Marysville with our Kelley side of the family. It was just a short stop home between travels, but it was so special for us to be together with our little family and build memories with the girls. It was a wonderful Christmas!
Just catching up on your blog. Love the pix and description of the day. :) We also covered Tess's kitchen with a sheet -- and quickly learned that she didn't know it wasn't a present b/c it wasn't wrapped! Oh well! Once we took the blanket off and she realized what it was, she got into it. :) Lesson learned. :)
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