The box of the White House Ornament our neighbors gave us

My Christmas Past is definitely this years Christmas Present!

For a girl who loves traditions and holidays, it would hardly matter what happened on Christmas Day in my mind, all would go well. (I know this statement would shock those who think I have to have everything so perfect!)
I have had some very emotional and lonely Christmas days since my husband and I have been married. For some recent 5 years Jeff has worked on Christmas day and most of those were Christmas Eve until the day after Christmas at the hospital for 60 some odd hours. We have eaten many a dinner in the hospital cafeteria with Jeff. I have gone to many wonderful homes for Christmas eve dinner or Christmas day alone with the kids. One year I flew home without him and luckily Mark & Stacy took good care of him on Christmas day. My husband is not a complainer..ever! He has done a much better job of making life seem brighter during the holidays than I, but I can honestly say now and he would too, Christmas time in the past has been really hard. It took me awhile to find what makes me excited about Christmas. It is things like our advent delivery for the 12 Days of Christmas, delivering pineapples, one year me and the girls brought hot Krispy Kreme donuts to all of our neighbors to eat while opening presents, the traditions of cooking, giving gifts to people Jeff work with. You could say I am a tradition gal so I can get through the rough spots of life.
So this year having Jeff home all weekend and the days after were the best gift I could have. Those years of feeling lonely and sad have made me appreciate things that I normally would not have. We live very far from our family and Christmas Eve was just us, but that is really all we have known and we have learned to appreciate what we have. Christmas time is just a reminder of appreciating what you have.

so on to the fun stuff. Jeff and I went to bed at 1:30 am and were so tired from constructing and building. Some of the highlights for the kids.

We caught Santa on the video tape. Video coming!

The girls in the tent from Mimi and Grandpy

Annie Kate's first try at video games. Oh and it is PINK!
The goodwill horse has been a huge hit!
One of my favorite things was a gift from my friend Laura G. She had taken my genealogy family group sheet and made a game for our family with the names of parents, grandparents and great grandparents. She is amazing and if you want to order one let me know! It is a great family game.Jeff's mom sent him for Christmas his Scout uniform with all the patches and such. It was really awesome to see all of that. Jeff has often said that getting his Eagle was one of the best decisions in his life and has paid off for him professionally over and over again.
The big hit of the morning was that after all the gifts were open the ornament that opens like a box had a note inside to look outside, and magically appeared the John Deere Gator. Something Annie Kate has been asking for, for 3 years. We have a great place for the kids to ride it and so we were lucky Santa was so generous this year. (Jeff still has frostbite from being outside till 1:00 am putting it together)
It was a great day and it felt like the Christmas miracle that we were all together in a non-sterile field!