What I Learned This Christmas...

My daughter loves to perform and it's still NOT fun sitting through a Christmas program with a sweet "babe" on your lap.

Sweet girl also LOVES to host her own photo sessions. Where oh where did THIS come from?

Caden melts my heart in his new glasses.

My son is a cheese.

Decorating sugar cookies is way more fun when the kids do it. With LOTS of sprinkles!

Christmas Eve with the cousins is one of the BEST ways to celebrate.

That it is NEVER a good idea to give your 6 year old a pocket knife for Christmas. Ever. Simply because he might come up to you about 15 minutes after opening the present that he's BEGGED for for over a year and tell you he's bleeding. And you might think you're fine. But, trust me, you're not. And you may start to get all hot and tingly. Your stomach might just start to turn. And you, quite possibly, may have to excuse yourself before you either pass out or vomit all over your pour screaming son. He may, however, stop screaming as soon as your husband tells him that if he doesn't stop his Mom will make him go to the ER and get stitches. And after all is said and done, the sweet 6 year old might just tell you that he never wants his pocketknife back. Maybe.

It is also NEVER a good idea to believe that a few white chocolate chips here and there won't make a difference. They can. And they will. Promise.

New jammies for Christmas NEVER get old.

There are NO words to describe the joy that overflows when watching your children open presents and scream with glee. None.

And there is NOTHING wrong with crying multiple times on Christmas day just because you are overflowing with joy. Nothing. Especially when you watch your daughter dancing around her room, singing to her new Barbie and the Diamond Castle CD, on her new CD player. Pure. Joy.

That just because some of your children are up and ready, does NOT mean they're all ready...

A 1000 picture memory card is NOT big enough for your six year old and his new camera. Not even close.

That even after 16 years together, my sweet husband can still surprise me on Christmas morning.

That there is nothing better than Christmas at home. Playing games. Drinking coffee. Enjoying family. Nothing.

That visiting my family the day after Christmas might be a little crazy getting out the door, but oh so worth it!
That my boys can be sweet to each other... when they're sleeping!

That my brother and sister-in-law are amazing and that they are totally who I want to be when I grow up.That it's still fun to play in the snow.

That my children love, love, love their cousins!

That I love Christmas. The wonderful break. Celebrating Jesus's birthday. Love it. Love it. Love it!