Christmas eve and morning 2012 slideshow

One of my favorite parts of Christmas with kids is the preparation the night before. I love getting all the gifts together and wrapping while g puts together the toys that may need assembly. It has been a really special time for just the two of us and we seem to have so much fun and feel like kids again. This year delivered just as I remembered from last year. I also made M & M cookies with the kids on Christmas eve day and we left some for Santa with chocolate milk, along with a carrot and water for Rudolf. I taught them the M & M cookie making just like Grandma Ayres taught mel and I, carefully putting M and M's on top of each coookie after placing them on the cookie sheet- and don't be stingy on those M and M's! A few for your mouth of course is allowed in the process. =) I also like thinking about all the traditions that my family did when I was living at home. I loved the bell church service, drinking wassle, and opening one gift the night before. And on Christmas morning of course I would always be the first to wake up! Then waiting to hear the bible birth story, having coffee and cinnamon rolls, opening our stockings first, and then each having our own color wrapping paper. What special memories with my family for all those years. As a parent I hope I can help create special traditions and memories for my kids as my parents did for us. Here is a slideshow of pics from Christmas eve preparations and Christmas morning. Once again our camera is messed up so not the best quality photos- but I think it's fun to see the progression and the kids clearly had a great time. Each year I try to not go overboard with too many toys for the kids, as they have so many. Christmas time is hard as you balance wanting to give your kids the "wow" with new toys/presents that you remember and trying not to consume too many things. This will be something I will continue to work on, as we try to teach our children the real importance of the season, cherishing people and experiences more than material things, while also providing them with presents to open on Christmas morning. I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!