Christmas Eve and Day

I probably reiterated this about 1000 times over the holiday season, but Christmas through a child's eyes is amazing!  There is a little magic there that, as a realistic (somewhat cynical at times) adult, you just wish you could go back to.  I love it!  So, here's the recap on our Christmas fun...even if I'm a month late in posting it.

The afternoon of Christmas Eve we headed to church.  When we returned, Nana and Papa had arrived from Woolwine as they were spending the night with us.  We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner, and then got into our PJs for Santa Prep and other Christmas Eve activities.

We always bake cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve and make food for his reindeer (carrots and celery).  Then we get into our pajamas and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  After cookies and milk are laid out ---- we head to bed.  Matt and I thought that two things would happen on Christmas Eve due to Katie's OUT OF CONTROL excitement:  1)  She might still be awake at 10 PM    2)  She might get up at 5 AM.

Amazingly, she was out like a light at about 8:30 ---- and didn't get up until 7:30 the next morning.  COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!  It was a good thing she went to bed on-time though, because mommy and daddy were up until about midnight wrapping and assembling various presents.  I cannot imagine what bedtime will be for us once 2 kiddos are in the mix.  Shesh!

Christmas morning came.....and guess what, the big guy didn't disappoint.  :-)  Katie was thrilled with all her presents and she, of course, got entirely too many.  This year we also let Katie do some shopping on her own (at the Dollar Tree store).  I wanted her to start learning the value of gift giving....not just receiving.  I was surprised at how good/thoughtful her gifts were.  For Nana, she got candy and warm socks.....because "Nana's feet are always cold."  For Papa she picked out lotion and a clown headed crazy pen.....because "he always says his hands need lotion, and the Pen is a little Silly like him."  Oh, how the mind of a 4 year old works!  

After presents were opened, my parents headed home to Woolwine to visit my grandmother and my brother.  We stayed in Roanoke and just enjoyed the day.  As a parent, Christmas Day and the few days that follow are probably some of the easiest days to care for a preschooler.  Katie was so enamored by all her toys that she would just sit in her play room for HOURS playing with each new item.  Matt and I thought --- should be interrupt this and try to get her outside or engage her in some play.  NAH!  Let's just enjoy the PEACE and QUIET.  Plus, we wanted to play with our new toys as well.  It was a very low-key, relaxing, family day.