Most wonderful time of the year

A Christmas Haiku

Wellman Christmas Eve

Vivian got a pogo stick

Bouncy, blurry bliss

Eating and eating, celebrating Elijah's first birthday, opening gifts, and a Christmas Eve Mass that was overflowing...

Christmas had officially arrived!

The girls woke up groggy after all the fun of Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's. Sleepy enough that they let us take a few pictures before attacking the stockings.

The girls moved all the gifts from under the tree in the office to neatly sorted stacks around the fireplace. This year Miriam used her good behavior "money" from school to purchase each family member a gift. She was so, so excited to give these gifts. She protected them fiercely from Simon - no peaking and no destroying the wrapping she had carefully done in the classroom! Christmas morning when she gave her gifts and watched as we opened them, her Mom and Dad enjoyed watching this new side of Miriam. This older Miriam grasped the real joy of giving. Getting presents is fun, of course. But the giving - the Santa Claus generosity, the Son born as one of us to save us - she was coming into that understanding this Christmas. A new kind of delight was born in her.

Now, more fully alert, they opened their gifts with glee. It seemed they were just as excited to see what each other received as they were to open their own packages.

Tim made Sarah these unique copper bracelets! Pretty impressive!

After everything was revealed, the girls gathered their loot and arranged it. They spent an hour or so comparing and examining.

Simon cuddled with his parents - always his favorite gift.

Tim's parents came for lunch, the girls finally got dressed, and we spent the rest of the day playing! Tim and Simon took long naps in the afternoon. Mommy read and had a glass of wine. The girls watched a movie. Pure relaxation on a White Christmas.

It was about as perfect as a Christmas could be.