Christmas Day!!!

Christmas was amazing!!!  We had a wonderfully perfect Walden Christmas with just our small family.  The kids came downstairs and amazement filled their eyes as they looked around realizing that Santa had come and there were more presents than I would like to admit to open!  Neither child knew where or when to start and they just sorta sauntered around the presents, gazing at them, and exclaiming, "Wow," "Whoa," or "No way!"  Nico loved pointing out to Natalee which ones were hers and once he started, he was ready to move from one present to the next after gleefully showing both Daddy and I what prize possession he had just opened. Natalee, however, slowly opened one present at a time, as if she was savoring each one.  She was so joyful in each present that was opened and thoroughly enjoyed herself.

We had a fantastic and filling meal at Bucca di Beppos in downtown Washington DC and then came home to watch movies together as a family.  I am pretty sure we could not have topped this day.  I feel so blessed to have such an amazing little family that I love so much!!!

Chrismas Eve

Christmas Eve was a relaxing day for us this year. The kids and I did bake Christmas cookies so that we could leave some for Santa that night. They had fun decorating the cookies, and Nico's cookies were very colorful and made with love!  Natalee was engrossed with the sprinkles and wanted to not only decorate the cookies, but also the floor and the counter!  These are the prettiest cookies I think I have ever seen...I have waited a long time to have little angels decorating Christmas cookies in the kitchen with me.

We also went to a candlelight Christmas Eve service, where Nico was able to light and hold his own candle.  I love the simplicity of candlelight services on Christmas Eve, and although we are far from Texas, having that tradition made it feel like home even more.

 

After Church and opening their presents from Crickey Coco, they kiddos relaxed a bit wearing their new Christmas PJs from Crickey Coco.  When Daddy and I went over to tell them we needed to get the cookies and milk ready for Santa, we found a certain little boy was fast asleep in the play room. We still managed to read our traditional Christmas Eve books, the Nativity story and The Night Before Christmas but Nico was more asleep than awake during the stories. 

After the children were nestled in bed with sugar plums dancing in their heads....Mamma and Pappa snuck downstairs to help Santa bring up all the goodies for Christmas morning! 

Crickey Coco

As you saw in a previous blog, Crickey Coco made his appearance on December 1st for this holiday season.  Every night but one he seemed to fly home to the North Pole to see Santa and come back landing in funny places around the house. Each morning Nico anxiously woke up wanting to bound down the stairs to find his little friend!  The excitement was beautiful to see! Here are just a few of the places Nico found our little elf!

On Christmas Eve while our family was at candlelight Christmas Eve service, Crickey Coco had to leave to go to the North Pole to help Santa with the delivery of all the gifts.  We will not see him again until next year now. Nico knew he would be leaving and was sad to say good-bye, but was pretty happy when we came home to find that Crickey Coco had left a nice letter for Nico and Natalee and some Christmas PJs for both of them!