christmas wrap up

Scraps of colored paper still linger... stockings that once hung are now under the tree... more snacks than anyone needs still covering the dining room table... and smiling faces all around.
Christmas was... in a word, beautiful.

There was singing...

and late night preparation in pajamas.

There was the tearing of paper...

and smiles accompanying laughter.

Family and friends. Books and clothes. Legos and toys.
Yes... toys. Because even though they are almost 13 & 16, they still need to play. And even Camden shouted with glee over his Build-a-Bear gift card. That just makes me smile... that my son who is just days away from being a teenager still finds joy in... everything. And my dear Laura made good use of the wrapping paper and took her paper crane folding to a whole new level.

We celebrated with my Mom & Bob on Christmas Eve... the grandchildren had slept over the night before and by the time we got there they were full of stories. Especially talking about how Gramma popped popcorn in a pan on the stove. With no cover. On purpose. (Yeah... my Mom is that kind of Gramma.) The table was decorated with four unique and festive gingerbread houses... and kids were ready to open presents. It was an afternoon of joy, and it was hard to pull myself away for church.   But the singers needed to warm up... and when they sang... my heart swelled.  I hope that someday... they will sing together again.  Because their voices blended together beautifully, and glancing back at my husband and daughter, I all but melted into my chair.  Christmas Day turned out just fine, and I was thankful not to have spent a moment whining about Eric having to work.  He was able to come on home for a few hours and enjoy the opening of gifts... and then headed back out to patrol, stopping back in at lunch time to retreive the ham bone soup he had prepared for the shift. I only felt badly that he did not have a chance to enjoy the Christmas nap!  But the kids & I played and enjoyed the afternoon.  Dinner was a wonderful spread, which we shared with family & friends... and once again, I went out of control with dessert. The making and the eating. 

Counting my blessings... and sitting back to enjoy it all.