christmas 2012.

yes, we did celebrate christmas in 2012. and can i just say, that Christmas gets better and better, the older the kids get. they are very specific and solid in their requests. they pick out nice gifts for each other. they focus on the things that they get and not on the things they do not find under the tree. (on a side note, i do think this might be directly related to my decision to buy all of the gifts on their lists, with the understanding that they keep it under ten items and show some restraint.)
regardless, this year we were able to strengthen old family traditions -opening new jammies, watching white christmas , and enjoying chicken pot pie and milkshakes christmas eve. reading the story of our savior's birth from the scriptures and sipping hot chocolate christmas morning- and make a few new ones. we spent a cozy morning together as a family and enjoyed the company of good friends throughout the evening. we talked with family and shared quiet, bittersweet moments alone. i love christmas. i love the anticipation of the night before and the joy and excitement of the following morning. what a good life it is.