christmas

Christmas was magical, loud, fun, exhausting. The generosity and love of grandparents, aunts, and uncles is evident in the tote full of toys that will not fit in our trailer and in the over flowing laundry basket that currently serves as the girls' dresser.

Like any long, excitement-filled event, Christmas had its ups and downs.
Up: Seeing Laci's curiosity about the big guy in red.
Down: Mia decided Santa's visit was cue for a meltdown, preventing me from getting a single picture of my big girl telling Santa she wants a dirt bike (next year, sweetie).
Up: Laci successfully joined the kid table on her own this year, Mia took a timely nap, and I ate dinner like a real grown up for the first time in a while.
Down: Mia refused to let anyone else hold her, leaving me with tired arms and mostly blurry pictures.

Without taking anything away from this year's festivities (because it was a nice weekend, really and truly nice) I want next year to be different. I want my girls to open presents in pajamas in our own living room. I want to take time for them to enjoy each present instead of rushing them from one package to the next. Poor Laci was done opening presents long before she reached the bottom of her many piles. Once she opened her horses, she would have been content to just sit all day.

The hustle and bustle of this year (as in years past) leaves us filled to the brim with happy memories of cousins playing and families sharing good food and a warm fire. And it leaves us exhausted. Me, especially, as I cannot remember a good night of sleep in the last month. I'm left craving a sense of calm and normalcy that will be unachievable until we complete our house. So, I wait, anxious already for next year to begin.

***

Last year, I split Christmas into three separate posts (here, here, and here), and now I know why...pictures, pictures, pictures. But since there is only a day or so left of 2011, I'm dumping them all here, the final "Hurrah!" of the year in a way.

I was a bit Scrooge-ish this year. Getting into the spirit proved a little difficult without a house or tree to decorate, with a very limited budget, and the general ho-hum attitude I've had lately. But I was successful in keeping a few traditions alive, and that makes me happy.

I manage to wrangle the cousins (minus Mia) for the second annual group picture. With many, many out takes, I was able to get one keeper.

The girls got pajamas in their paint cans, although not on Christmas Eve. For the third year, Laci's pajamas are decidedly UNfestive. I'm not sure how this happens, but rainbow pants and a giant pink and smiley face just seemed to call her name this year.

I stuck to my three standard gifts for the girls: pajamas, one toy, and a stack of books. I can't describe how much joy it brings me to read to Laci and have her actually sit and listen, and then ask for "more stories."  She's a little reader in the making and I love it.

***

Ryan and I didn't exchange gifts again this year.  Our gift will be in a month (or two) when I can drive into our garage, unload an armful of groceries, and cozy up with the girls in front of a fire.  On that day, I know it will have been worth all this waiting and stress.  In the meantime, I'll enjoy my new boots (thanks, Mom), I'll enjoy watching my girls sift through new toys, and I'll be thankful for all the blessings of 2011.