Every year I find myself thinking….wow…that was the best Christmas ever!  Every year it just keeps getting better!  How is that even possible?

It helps to have more excitement each year from the little ones.  To see their expressions as they open each gift.  To watch them open toys immediately after opening.  To see what they play with the rest of the afternoon.  To see my brother and sister watch their little ones faces light up with joy.  To see my dad smile and enjoy everyone at home again.

Yesterday was magical.  The day flew by way too fast, as it always does.

We spent late into Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning with my guys family.  We played Mexican Dominoes Christmas Eve while watching the marathon of Duck Dynasty.  That show may be the very reason we invest in cable after moving.

Early Christmas morning we opened presents together and enjoyed each other’s company before heading to his parents again for more presents to open and his dad’s famous breakfast.

Then we headed to my dad’s for presents with my family and lunch.

There are many things I love about yesterday…

I love that my dad wrapped everything individually for M and I so we would have more to open.  We had a very nice gift from him but it should have only been one thing.  He felt bad so he wrapped the individual items separately so we would have more to open and not be left out.

I love that the oldest little spent the afternoon writing in his new Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do It Yourself book. Then sweet middle little who insists on doing everything he does because she adores him so much did the same.

 I love that she looks up to him so much.  I wish he knew that sometimes her sassy attitude is just her wanting his attention so badly.  I wish they could have more in common, but I guess I should face it that they are almost two years apart and different genders.  Not a whole lot they can agree on!

I love that we watched all three of them pass out the gifts, just as we once did.  Little B just ran back and forth and the older ones told him who to deliver to.  It was so cute.

I loved that we sat around the dining room table eating lunch together with the littles at the bar behind us.  Just like when we were kids.  It was a moment I wished could have lasted a little longer.  We don’t all get to sit down and just leave the every day hustle and bustle behind.

I love that I am blessed with an amazing gift giving family. The best part of gift giving is seeing the joy on the other person’s face after they have opened your present.  We do presents one by one so everyone can enjoy it.

I love that my sister is the best gift giver ever and she loves to do it. She got me this amazing “statement” necklace and she was so excited to watch me open it.  She definitely has a gift for gift giving

I love that my niece bought special gifts for many of us from a “store” at her school. She must get it from her momma.  I wanted to cry watching each of us open her special gifts.  Her face.  Their expressions.  Her face to see their excitement.  She is just like her momma….a huge gift giving heart.  I loved it.  I got this ring that is our birthstone and a special AUNT pen.  Straight from her heart.  She even gave her Unkie a compass so he wouldn’t get lost when he went hunting.  She gave each person she loved something special just for them.

My special gift.

 

I love that my dad can smile again at Christmas and that he has found someone special to do so with.  Watching them exchange gifts use to be hard when I was bitter.  Thanks to years of time and healing it’s enjoyable again.  They both have a love for their families and a love for each other.

I hope each of you had an amazing Christmas.

I hope each of you have stayed safe, warm, and cozy during this so called “blizzard” of 2012.

May you continue to be blessed with His love and find peace, comfort, and joy throughout the rest of this amazing holiday season.

One Lucky Lady,