Merry & White

With a clear memory of last Christmas, Peyton was able to comprehend the spirit of the season this year.  He loved all the festivities and especially loved everything Santa.  Allison, new to the whole gig was overjoyed with some aspects of the season (i.e. ribbon, ornaments and holiday lights), but greeted others with much skepticism (i.e. the strange, bearded man in the red suit, who seemed to show up nearly everywhere we went, whom we called Santa).  We counted the days.  We waited patiently.  We dutifully took care of Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve.  When at last we woke on Christmas morning, we were overcome with so much joy and excitement, it may take us until July to come down from the holiday high.    

This year we woke at our usual morning hour.  Despite our excitement, Peyton decided he did not want to open "even one single present" before eating.  We couldn't even persuade him to open his stocking first.  So, after a team effort to get Allison up from bed, we started our Christmas morning with breakfast; A surprising, but wise decision made by our 4 year old.  After breakfast, with the moon still out, but the sun starting to rise, we were finally ready to tackle the business of present opening.  

Here, I quote a few phrases of the famous 'Twas the Night Before Christmas poem: 

"Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.  

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave the luster of midday to objects below, 

When what to our wondering eyes did appear, But..." 

Snow!  Snow on Christmas?  Not in my life time.  At least, not that I recall.  We had left-over snow a few years back, which seemed memorable at the time.  I always dreamed of a white Christmas, but I never actually experienced one.  This year, for a couple of magical hours at least, we had ourselves a very merry and very white Christmas!

Christmas morning excitement!

Peyton decided he wanted to have breakfast before opening a single present.  He even had the patiences to let us take a few family photos AFTER breakfast.  

It had been well over an hour since he first woke us up on Christmas morning before he decided he just couldn't wait one single minute more.

The photo says it all.  Let round 3 of Christmas commence.  At Grandma and Grandpa's.

Steve, almost as excited as Peyton.  Almost.

Sisters.

Victoria and Allison.
Who needs presents when there is an iphone (or 2 or 3) to play with?

Allison's favorite thing this Christmas was the lights.  I love this photo with the tree lights shining behind her.  Her eyes sparkled and she enthusiastically said, "Ooohh, pretty," in her sweet, toddler voice, every single time she saw them.  Every. Single. Time.

Peyton with Ella Rose, Hazel and Rose.

Ella Rose bravely taking a few stutter steps for us on Christmas day.  Look out! 

Hazel - multitasking.

Enjoying time with the girls.

Is everyone doing their own thing?  Yes.  It was just that busy all day long!

Ella Rose delighting her Auntie by climbing in my lap and lingering there for some sweet Ella cuddles.

Peyton helping Grampa (aka The Muffin Man) open his new muffin pan.

Cuddles at the end of a very exciting and long day.

Thank you, Grama and Grampa, for hosting a lovely Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2013!

We completed the day with a Parr Family celebration at my parents' home.  But not the kind that I remember as a child.  No.  Gone are the days of long conversations over a leisurely dinner.  Where once there was calm, there is now a storm of activity.  We evidently no longer wait while we pass out presents, one by one, or while we take turns opening one at a time.  If there was the usual intermission to stretch legs and grab a cookie, I missed it.  The 3 young, but ever so adorable, children managed in one afternoon to change the entire dynamic of a Parr Family Christmas!  It was fun.  My children are so blessed and fortunate.

Thanks to all our family and friends who mean so much, and shine so much light on our lives.

"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"