With Their Eyes All Aglow

For Spouse and I, our joy at Christmas comes from the smiles and excitement in our children; hearing them tell the nativity story in their own words; listening to them talk of Santa when they think they can't be heard.

Our Christmas was happy and fulfilling. Here's some of the action:

Christmas Eve party with friends, complete with pinata.

#2 giving it a crack

White elephant gift exchange. Here is the lucky recipient of my goofy offering.

Just before bed on Christmas Eve. Judging by their faces in this picture you would have thought the children would have had trouble sleeping. Actually they conked out quite fast. The days of laying awake all night haven't arrived yet. Did you do that?

Christmas morning galore! #3 and her "beebee"

Argh matey! #2's pirate ship was a pleaser.

Does #1 look disappointed to you? She was though she never confessed it. You see that doll next to her stocking? Well, Santa couldn't afford the real American Girl doll, so he found a very nice generic brand hoping she wouldn't notice. She did. Here's the kicker: later she opened a real American Girl doll from her Grandma. Ahhh! Foiled again. Point: Grandma J

#3 fell in love with this kitten at her cousin's house at Thanksgiving. Point: JLJ & Spouse.

#2 was so polite and restrained opening his gifts this year. A far cry from last year's performance!

#1 mastering her Leapster game.

Son, don't you think you're a little too big for that chair?

Christmas Feast!

This is how we all felt after dinner. "I ate tooo muuuuch."

Me and the Spouse

Woo hoo! New jammies! Check out those Spiderman wings.

And goodnight.