The Calm after the storm!

Wow! Christmas got here quick this year and went by just as quickly! There was so much preparation, shopping, baking, hype, Christmas plays, Christmas play rehearsal....I could go on! But, I won't.

This year, Christmas felt different. I am unable to say what it was exactly, but it was different. Not bad, by any means! Actually, different in a good way. Maybe this had something to do with it.

My little guy is only 3 years old. He is just starting to understand the very basics. He knows about baby Jesus and Mary and Josephs stay in the stable. He knows that Christmas trees are great and pretty. He knows that this is a birthday. He gets confused on who's birthday it is and probably is confused on why the guest of honor is not attending his party.

I worked on Tuesday night and got home and in bed around 11:45pm and had to get up at 3:45am to go to work. Not much sleep. I got home at 2:30 and decided to keep my idea of starting a new tradition. To bake a batch of Christmas cookies with my little guy to put out for Santa Claus. Here is our special plate for Santa....isn't it cute?

Here are the cookies that we made. My son proudly made the cookie on the left. Santa ate it all gone. :)

Grandma and Grandpa came over and ate with us and opened gifts with us.

My little Stinker made a nice haul. He is having fun playing all day today. He has been quiet and busy. Peace! I love it!

Every year my sisters and mom and some neices get together and do a cookie exchange. I have envied this tradition, because I cannot be a part of it. I received a package in the mail the other day and assumed it was a Christmas gift and didn't open it right away. I waited until Christmas eve. When I opened it this is what I saw.

How thoughtful! I cried. My husband asked me why I was crying....I said, "they included me." It felt really good! They sent me a box of their cookies. They did this for all of us who live away. How nice. It caught me off guard. It was the best suprise of all!

Merry Christmas! and thank you!