A Collage of Christmas Memories

Santa came to our house last night?  Did he visit yours? 

I wish I would have written down all the memorable things the kids have said today, but here are a few I remember.

E as we tried to break it him that the present he got to open on Christmas Eve was pajamas:  "You're joking.  Why would you wrap my pajamas?"

J:  "Good thing we left carrots.  The reindeer ate all of them!"


A coming down the stairs at 7:01 a.m.:  "It's Christmas!  Santa came!  I love Santa!"

A: "I don't want a gun!  That's just for boys!"

E, increduously:  "We only have one hour of church today?"

J:  "Mom, why don't we ever go away for Christmas to South Carolina or something?  That's where our family is and we should go there for Christmas."

A: "How many more days until the next Christmas?"

As Dan grilled up some cheese sandwiches after church I snapped spontaneous Christmas Day portraits of the kids right where the sunlight shines through the sliding glass door so that their eyes glowed.  This might become a tradition.  Do you ever feel enamored with your children?  Today after I shot these I flipped through these over and over.  "My kids are so cute.  My kids are so wonderful."  Maybe when I feel less-in-love I can come back to these to be reminded of their beauty.

I forced a group timer shot.  Those aren't supposed to be perfect right?  I'm pretty sure when I was younger and less mature (three years ago) I cried when the timer shot session I was counting on for our family portrait didn't turn out.  I embrace the imperfection now.  Blur.  Weird smiles.  Hands in mouth.  Bad framing.  Bring it on.

Merry Christmas to one and all.  I hope your yuletide and faith-based traditions made beautiful memories for you this year.