Christmas 2009 in a Nutshell

• Papa, Grandma, Uncle Adam, Aunt Heather, Chad, Megan, Bree, Mason, and Riley; all together at our house for Christmas
• Delicious Christmas Eve roast beef (technically braised beef) dinner, with Grandma's delicious chocolate cream pie and lemon cheesecake desserts
• Christmas Eve reading about the birth of Christ in the Bible and singing Christmas Hymns
• Everyone opening new Christmas pajamas (in future I'll stick to homemade PJ pants only; that project was a little too big!)
• Papa protesting the idea to watch a certain movie, and Bree subsequently telling him, "Papa, you're on the naughty list!"
• Homemade cheeseball, fudge, and See's candy
• Seeing Bree and Mason so excited Christmas morning because Santa came
• Eating the traditional strawberry waffles for breakfast
• Opening an embarrassing number of gifts; Mason's new cars, trucks, helicopter, and motorcycles; Bree's new toy kitty: Riley's hand-painted onesies from Heather and Adam; high-quality personalized steel water bottles and a pressure cooker from Grandma and Papa Wilkinson; a Wii made possible by Grandma and Papa Wallace; etc, etc, etc
• Watching the kids play so contentedly and quietly with their new toys
• Seeing a little toy car and Ariel doll join the Little People Nativity in visiting baby Jesus
• Playing games as a family
• Enjoying Chad's shortened work schedule, even though the hours he had to work both days were no fun
• Hugs and kisses all around
• Family, love, Christ, giving; the true joys of Christmas