Twas the night before-Christmas Eve

This year we were home in Michigan for the holidays. We had a few lovely days off to get our last minute shopping and wrapping completed before we made our rounds of merriment. Since I was so fortunate to "run into" Santa in the streets of East Grand Rapids, I was able to explain that we wouldn't be home for Christmas Eve. Being the ever-understanding fellow he is, he agreed to stop by our home the night before Christmas Eve. So here are the pictures from "our Christmas morning." It was nice to enjoy a leisurely morning of gift giving and breakfast, followed by an afternoon of play (while I packed to stay the night at my parents). We headed to the Christmas Eve service at church at 3:00. It was magical and wonderful to sing Christmas carols with the kids. Carter was so exhausted he fell asleep in church. That was a religious experience in and of itself. He truly looked like an angel sleeping on my lap. I had tears in my eyes singing Away in a Manager while stroking his angelic face. We then drove an icy hike to mom and dad's.

Their home was so beautiful and cozy, all my favorite traditions, foods, sounds, and sights. It was wonderful. I would have loved to report that everyone slept like babes. However, that was not the case. Christian is recovering from a double ear infection and the hatching of ALL four of his i-teeth, all the while getting TOO big to comfortably sleep in the Pack and Play. Carter was well rested after his late afternoon nap in church accompanied by the excitement of Christmas morning. All that teamed with sleeping next to his Uncle Evan. Needless to say, we had a restless night and 6:30 didn't come fast enough. I will post the corresponding pictures soon.

Here is our Christmas morning: reader beware: MY CHILDREN WERE SPOILED this year! Stocking gifts galore

Thank goodness Santa knew JUST what this little dude needed:
Sunglasses!

We wanted Grandma and Grandpa Moorlag to be part of the festivities so we skyped with them the whole time we were opening gifts. Chaos and joy!

Good thing they were still in their jammies too!It was neat that Grandma and Grandpa got to see the kids open the gifts they had sent for each of them. I love the technology!

Ella and her magical princess alarm clock from Grandma and Grandpa

Ella's big gift from us, a salon chair for her American Girl Doll.

Toys Galore

Thrilled that Santa could find The King! (since mom and dad never could)

A big hit-- a new picnic table for the deck (or the corner of the living room) from Gma and Gpa Moorlag. We stopped to have a morning snack break.

A car of his very own.

Look out hair designers here comes Elle

Wedgits from Mom and dad.

I showed Ella how to braid--that quick whip practiced for maybe 10 minutes and had it figured out! The salon chair is hard at work.

The unfortunate fact is that these pictures only document one day of gift giving and receiving.