Merry Christmas to All!

Yes, that's real snow not ice! We had a white Christmas after all!

The empty Santa Claus cookie plate. Norah was so excited that Santa had eaten the cookie we left out for him that she told everyone she talked to about it for the rest of the day.

Norah and Justin are not used to us having a fire going in the fireplace, and so it held their attention until we pointed out that Santa had left a surprise for them in their stockings.

Justin picked a very odd angle from which to open his present, but he was determined and opened it with almost no help.

Norah opening one of her Christmas gifts from Mommy and Daddy.

She was so excited to see a step stool that she almost forgot to finish unwrapping it!

Justin loved his new step stool and had to climb it to test it out.

Santa brought the babies some new cookware, which Justin decided to try out.

Norah cuddling with her new puppy.

Over at the apartment we discovered that Santa had left gifts there too. Norah and Justin both got new "laptops".

Everyone taking their places and getting situated.

Norah designated Uncle Russell as the official "toy extractor" person, so was in his lap the majority of the time as he removed her new toys from the boxes.

Uncle Phillip took pity on Uncle Russell and lent a hand removing toys from boxes.

Aunt Alyssa with one of her new gifts.

Uncle Patrick showing off one of his gifts.

Justin playing with his new computer.

Justin curled up in his new blanket. He was wrapped up in it pretty much the rest of the day. What can we say...? He's a cuddle bug!

Uncle Matthew and Norah testing out their new light sabers.

The Force is strong with this one!

Uncle Russell and Justin just hanging out together.

Uncle Matthew wearing his new Jedi Robe, and wearing Phillip out!

Justin with his blanket again!

Mommy covered in "some" of Norah and Justin's presents.

The chaos of present opening.

Justin showing off his new piano.

Uncle Russell trying to open the new pirate ship with the help of two very enthusiastic toddlers.

Justin playing with his new baby dinosaur.

Justin showing everyone his new roaring dinosaur.

Uncle Patrick and Aunt Lyssa.

Grandma and Grandpa stealing a kiss!

Justin pretending to be a puppy with his new blanket.

Norah excited that the pirate ship is finally free from it's box.

Justin giving Uncle Matthew a love.

Norah showing off her new princess shoes.

Justin talking on the phone with the Great-Grandparents out in California.

Justin wandering as he's talking! He's starting to look so much like a little boy.

Norah's turn to talk with her Great-Grandparents

(probably telling them all about how Santa ate his cookie)!

Norah listening very intently.

Norah wearing Aunt Lyssa's new sunglasses.

May the Force be with you! Or something like that!

Home again with two bags of loot in front of the kid-friendly, half decorated tree!

Christmas Day could not have been more perfect. Jeff and I got up before the kids to get ready and make coffee/hot chocolate. We lit a fire in the fireplace and rearranged the fireplace to allow for more space while opening presents. We anticipated the kids sleeping in because of how late they were up the previous night, but were proven wrong when both kids woke up about 8:30! At first both babies were more fascinated by the fire, but once we showed them the stockings filled with surprises from Santa, we definitely had their attention. After looking through everyone's stockings, we opened our presents and had breakfast. The kids had a lot of fun and were thrilled with their new gifts, especially the stepstools!

After leisurely spending a morning at home as a family, we headed over to my brothers' apartment where the rest of the family had gathered. We had food galore to munch on as we spent the rest of the afternoon opening gifts and visiting. Everyone had a great time and since the pace was nice and slow, it was late afternoon before we knew it. Both babies were tired so we headed home to let them take a nap, at which point Jeff and I worked to put everything away. Once the babies were up, we headed back to the apartment for a wonderful Christmas Day dinner.

Christmas was low-key and slow paced and could not have been more perfect. We loved the quality time we spent together, uninterrupted by television or work, surrounded by the God's blessings.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas too!