so sorry! pictures aren’t uploading today! here’s today’s list without the usual picture.

1.  not waking up until 7:15 on christmas day…rested and ready. we were expecting 5am! bring on the joy and the chaos.

2.  the kids waiting at the top of the stairs with SO MUCH anticipation and hope and wonder and awe at the crazy idea that santa brings them presents from jesus!

3.  the different paces at which my kids open gifts.

4.  forgoing matching pajamas for ones we already had, and it not mattering AT ALL in the big scheme of things.

5.  arriving at my parents with the second half of the day still ahead of us.

6.  changing it up. i know. change is not usually a LITTLE thing for me! this year we did appetizers instead of a sit down dinner. there are just too many LITTLE kids for anyone to actually enjoy a sit down dinner at this stage. the appetizers were perfect and laid back {once we got them all on the table} and out all night for more eating.

7.  intentionally stopping and whispering “happy birthday jesus” throughout the day.

8.  being with family and the way the chaos and conversations ebb and flow throughout the night.

9.  getting excited for people to open gifts we bought with so much thought and love.

10.  they way the kids’ favorite gifts are always the one’s i never suspected would be their favorites.