christmas morning magic

i was pretty sure there was nothing greater than waking up christmas morning and being a kid.....but on christmas morning i realized it's even better being a parent and watching your child inhale, immerse in and consume what is the magic of christmas! i know it's only going to get more magical as our family grows...

between christmas eve and christmas (that's 2 days for those that are still recovering from the holiday), i took 351 pictures, so you've been spared! but here are a few pictures of elena diving right into the magic of christmas morning...

looking back at daddy after spotting the tree...

opening everything up....very carefully - she made sure every piece of wrapping paper made it into the garbage!


trying everything out...






"hmmm, i think i fit nicely in here too..."

in the running for her favorite christmas gift....elmo!!!


wasting no time 'getting down' with elmo...



thanking everyone....rubbing off that christmas magic on us!




more highlights include getting pushed around in her new car from uncle t and what could substitute as her car by all three of her uncles...




"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." ~Roy L. Smith

christmas eve

we've had snow on the ground since december 1st, but it's been too cold to get elena out to play in it.....until christmas eve morning! it was actually in the 30's, so we took advantage, bundled up and elena got to play in the snow for the very first time! SHE LOVED IT!!! she couldn't walk that great in her snowsuit and fell quite often, but she had no problem with that cuz then she could crawl and roll around in it so that she could be right up next to it! it was very fun and quite hilarious!


"boom!"

"the view from down here is much better anyways!"






"what was that mom said about yellow snow again?"

"oh here's some fresh snow..."

"yum!!"


she did NOT want to come in!


after a fun day in the snow, elena put out reindeer food to help lead santa to our house. (we were going to leave cookies for santa too, but you saw what happened to the first batch.)

very excited, as if she actually knows what she's doing...




then we read 'twas the night before christmas,' which we've been reading to her for a few days now...

and after elena was sound asleep, i decided to help santa with some of the gifts behind the tree and well, i got stuck. jason thought he'd snap a few pictures before he helped me....what a gem! you can see i'm getting ready to wish him a merry xmas with a certain finger...



"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." ~Norman Vincent Peale

elena's real christmas wish list

oh sure, she still wants the cookies...but here is our christmas wish list for elena jae.

peace - in her life and within herself....

strength - in whatever she chooses to endure....

spunk - because sometimes that's just what it takes....

wealth - not just in her piggy bank, but in her heart....

fulfillment - no matter how little filling she may need....

creativity - for the times that life may need a little pick me up....
silliness - because no one can afford to always be serious.....

determination - because no matter how much help she may get, she's gotta really want it....

happiness - in every little thing she does....
love - in it's truest form....


for bathwater to turn into pure chocolate (what - a girl can wish, can't she?!)....

and seriously, to get the helk off this guy's lap!


here is our christmas card...merry christmas to all!!


"May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!" ~Author Unknown