And this was Christmas!

I think all moms who have had kids leave home, 

understand the joy of having them come home on these special days.

We take more time to prepare the table . . .

and light a few candles.

I love the anticipation of excited families coming home!

Family gathering began with appetizers and 

soon we found ourselves in the family room 

ready to read the Christmas story and

listen to songs the kids had prepared.

This was the babies' introduction to the gift opening chair.

They weren't sure what to do . . .

maybe these boxes could be drums?

It was also Evy's introduction to being a little mama.

She took a turn and then baby took a turn sipping.

Lacey and Teddy were thrilled with blankets auntie Kristal made for them.

One of the reasons I'm sharing so many photos is because it 

has been so much fun to look at them today and

it's just too hard to pick.

You can tell I enjoyed the priceless expressions on their faces.

Soon the dads were busy assembling 

the gifts that came in big boxes.

Assembling and playing . . . 

as one big boy remembered a similar gift he received many Christmases ago.

With some careful seating, we just made it around the table and

had everyone been here, we would have seated two tables.

After dinner we skyped with our missing family

and were so happy to get a reasonable video feed.

It warmed my heart to see the sharing that happened in this way.

One gift for me was Chris' videoing of their family opening the Christmas suitcase

(a suitcase filled with gifts that we gave them in Hawaii)

I was finally able to be that fly on the wall I so often wish to be.

Another special gift was a throw Kristal crocheted for me

. .  . how she found time is beyond me, but I love it!

Kari also came up with such a beautiful creative gift -

it will get it's own post one day.

And that quite fills up my cup - to enjoy for a long time!