Christmas still lives...

There are a few pictures from opening presents at our house and our Christmas tree.  I thought our tree was particularly good this year.  We aren't real particular when choosing the tree, so it always amazes us when it turns out to be a really good tree.  We do love our Fraser Firs though- the needles last forever!  And they don't get all over the floor, which I love.  My cute shirt I got from Steve says, "with bump, not plump".  Everyone might as well know that I am not really just overeating or developing a belly from all the delicious holiday treats.  And Ripley certainly loved having the reindeer antlers put on him.  Can't you see how excited he is by the picture???  Steve got a new coat.  And the only other ones, besides the dogs, who got into any of our Christmas pictures were our most adorable niece and nephew, Claudia and Jacob.  Claudia was happy with her new American Girl doll and matching dress Nana got in Chicago when Katie ran the marathon and Jake was VERY excited by the "vroom-vrooms" we got him.  He barely put them down!  And, we also have the traditional Christmas Eve in front of the tree picture we always take after church at my parent's house.  My mom must have ended up with all the ones with other family members in them on her camera.  Again, all I have are us and dogs!  All in all, Christmas was a whirlwind.  We traveled all over the state, but hit all the parties, opened all the presents, went to all the church services, and ate all the food we possibly could.  It was great fun and I was left with that very sad feeling after it was all over.  Which, consequently, is part of the reason our tree usually stays up til mid-January (okay, not quite that long, but close).  I hate when Christmas is over and can't ever wait til the next year.  We are obviously very excited for next year because we will get to celebrate with our new little peanut.  It will be exciting and new and especially strange in my family.  It has been a long time (like 27 years) since there was a baby at Christmas.  And it will be fun to see the baby IN all the things we got for Christmas this year.  And to use the FABULOUS new diaper bag I got for Christmas from Nana and Papa Boss!  I didn't really think I was going to get it, so I was very excited!  Thanks be to all for making our Christmas this year so fun and memorable.  And to all... a good night.