Merry Christmas!

Christmas this year reminded me quite a bit like being engaged ... it was a stressful time planning the big event, but by Christmas Eve, there was a peace knowing that all that could be done WAS done and that it was time just to enjoy, breathe, and take in the moments... Christmas Eve was a time for us of preparing our hearts to receive the joys of Christmas morning and Christmas day was wonderful!!

Caleb joined the party and started the day with some cuddles from his Daddy.

We did our family gift exchange with the boys from the Dollar Store. This is one of our funnest things - its always a hoot to see what the boys pick out for us and each other when given carte blanche and a single dollar bill. Jared got Will this SWORD! (Yikes!)

... and Will got Daddy this awesome green travel mug.

Mid-morning, my parents and brothers and sisters came over to have breakfast.

How fun that we can eat outside in December??! The weather this week has been gorgeous.


... the boys put together a puzzle with a picture of their new playground

... and we ventured over to Poppi's trailer to check out the pieces.

... and we opened gifts! Aunt Barb & Uncle Ron got these adorable hooded blankets for the boys.

My sister Karrin with all three pajama-clad Barrett boys!

Caleb is figuring out how to play with his new cat - by tasting it (of course)

My parents and their three grandsons.

Aunt Kelly and the boys. :-)

Caleb was trying to figure out if this fence was to keep him in or Daisy out
- and more importantly, how to circumvent it.

Uncle Kinsey!

After my family left, we enjoyed a quiet afternoon. We took a walk to the park and hung out until it was time to go to Uncle Jim and Aunt Cathy's ... where we had "Casual Christmas". (I love Casual Christmas!). While Aunt Cathy finished up dinner, the boys watched the Grinch with Whitney, Cullen, and Uncle Jim ...

... and Caleb opened up his pirate ship. (Aunt Cathy is so great - whenever the boys got antsy, she would bring out another gift and toy to entertain and delight - how fun is that?)

Dinner was delicious!!

My Uncle Pat, Aunt Kelly, Samantha, and Shannon came over a little later and surprised the boys with a very cool art kit - that they went right to breaking in. :-)

After dinner, Uncle Jim read to the boys some of their new books. It was so sweet to see them all cuddled up together listening intently on the couch as he read to them. This is another moment that will go down as another one of my sweetest memories from this Christmas.

When I asked the boys what their favorite thing about Christmas this year was, Jared said it was spending time with his family (when asked which part and famiky yime was the best he said: all of them!) and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas morning. J's favorite toy was his Transformers car from Pap Bob and Grandma Kim. Will said his favorite part was spending time with his Mommy (although if his Daddy asked him it would probably be Daddy as he loves to make us happy!).

I love my family, we have so much to be thankful for. :-)