Christmas at Home

Ever since Tom and I were married, I can't think of one Christmas where we woke up in our own house. I was fine with that. I preferred it, actually. I enjoy being around our extended family for the holidays.

Once Logan was born though, every year Tom and I have had "the talk". I feel that, as a child, you should wake up at your own house on Christmas morning and participate in your own family traditions. Tom does not share this view. Don't get me wrong, I love spending the holidays in a packed house with crazy relatives. (Note to relatives who read my blog... you are not one of the crazy ones, of course.) I just feel like it is important to have your own family time. If we lived close enough, we would have Christmas morning at our house and spend the afternoon with our extended family.

So... anyway, I always have said that once Logan is old enough to understand and enjoy Christmas that I wanted to stay home. Tom sort of agreed, but I think that was just because Logan was so little and the time when he would be big enough to really enjoy Christmas was so far away.

Well, this was the year.

Logan was so excited for Christmas to come. I wanted to stay home, Tom wanted to head up to Washington. We compromised. Logan is old enough to understand and enjoy Christmas, but he is not old enough to realize when Mom and Dad are lying to him about what day it is. Christmas came a day early to our house. (That way we could head up to Washington Christmas Eve and spend the actual holiday with family. It worked out perfectly.)

Christmas Eve Eve was our Christmas Eve. We invited Byron and Jennifer over for dinner. We ate Turkey, played Karaoke, opened a couple presents, decorated cookies for Santa and Tom told the story of Jesus' birth (using our Nativity set so the kids would be interested). It was fun. Before bed, Logan made sure that Santa had cookies and milk waiting for him.

Byron and Logan playing Karaoke Revolution. Logan sings "I like to move it, move it" to every song.

Christmas morning was awesome. I love being able to get excited about Christmas again, through Logan. Logan actually slept in Christmas morning and Tom was impatient and woke him up. He ran downstairs and first noticed that Santa had brought him green presents, just as he had asked.

Santa had also filled up Logan's stocking with toys and treats.

He ate all of the cookies and drank all of the milk.

He even left a note.

Tom got him dressed the night before.

Presents!

Falling asleep on the way to Washington.

Next post... Christmas in Washington.