On the 1st Day of Christmas:

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Hope that you are all feeling especially happy and blessed today.  And that wherever you are, whether it's with family, friends, or cozy at home, you are feeling loved.
 
We celebrated Christmas Day at our new home in Colorado Springs.  It was the first time in 6 years that we didn't travel for the holidays, and although I'm sad we didn't spend it with family this year, I'm also very pleased to not have to drag our kids and everything that comes with us through the airport.  So, this year, we were kind of surprised to find ourselves having to think about starting our own family Christmas traditions, combining ones from our families and starting new ones together.  With the recent move, I didn't feel as prepared for Christmas as I would have liked.  Good thing Max is of the age where it's pretty easy, seeing as it's the first one he can participate in, and he has nothing to compare it to. 

We kept it pretty low-key.  I think David and I were more excited about stockings and ripping off wrapping paper than he was.  Max did enjoy opening packages though.  He even volunteered to open Cole's gifts.  He got a little overwhelmed after about 5 gifts though and we had to hurry through lunch to get him in bed for an early nap.  Before he did, we looked out the window to see that Santa had left one of his reindeer behind! 

Blitzen on the patio

Leaving through the front walk

Taking a nap in our backyard

Here is a picture of Max opening gifts this morning.  The cute Santa outfit is a hand-me-down from cousins Abby and Jack.  He changed out of the top and bottom after breakfast but wore the Santa "slippers"  all day long. 

Max's first gift from Santa - wearing Santa jammies

We made Christmas cookies, took a nice long walk, and then enjoyed an easy dinner.  Now the kids are in bed and David is sleeping (read: snoring) next to me on the couch.  I'm praying Cole decides to gift me with a full night's sleep tonight.  Wouldn't that be the perfect Christmas gift?