A Wonderful Christmas

We did it!

another beautiful & successful  
Christmas!  

Christmas Eve after talking to his grandmother and grandfather on the phone from Canada, and getting a surpise present (a stunning hand-knit blanket) from our friends and neighbors, we went to visit my aunt and uncle and cousins. 

It's a tradition on Christmas Eve to let Andrew open one gift before bedtime - a new pair of Christmas jammies and polar bear slippers!  

After opening his new pjs and slippers, we set out the milk and cookies. Then it was story time - Corduroy's Christmas!  Once Andrew was tucked into bed, Santa sprang into action!  Leaving quite a nice pile of presents under the tree...

 Come Christmas morning, the chaos ensued! Wrapping paper and bows everywhere! 

Gifts of all shapes and sizes!  

Gifts for our Westie, Ollie...

and our cats, Randy & Odie!

Christmas Storybooks...

And just about every toy a boy could wish for!

Dump trucks, remote control vehicles, DVDs, cars, a firetruck, 

a cement truck, a car carrier, doctor kit, a new toaster and kettle for his kitchen,

a firetruck sleeping bag, 

construction vehicles, dinosaurs, plush toys, etc...

including a play tent - perfect for cold, indoor days!

but the biggest gift was saved for last...

his new big boy car bed!

a BMW bed at that! 

(Do you remember my post about this?!?  

This was the $35 bed we bought on Craigslist that my husband repainted! 

The paint looks incredible! Just like a real car!
Much better than the cheap dyed plastic it was originally).

Our son LOVES it! 

What little boy wouldn't?!?

After opening all of our gifts, 

we had a lovely Christmas dinner of roast beef 

and savory roasted vegetables with buttery rolls.

My son's place setting with a Christmas cup of milk 

and his gingerbread man napkin ring!

Set with my 'Twas the Night Before Christmas dinnerware,

and with tiny present confetti sprinkled on the table!

And the dining room all aglow with our Noel candles,

Christmas trees and our Christmas village...

And our centerpiece of Father Christmas...

We said grace, remembering all of those that couldn't share in this Christmas with us...

and especially for my mom (Christmas was her birthday).

For dessert, a darling little, ooey gooey 
chocolate Christmas cake,
drenched in buttercream glaze and
wrapped up in a festive fondant bow...

encircled with prancing reindeer cookies!

Then we settled in for the night - after driving around to look at lights

 

to watch holiday specials and movies...

and to count our many blessings

for a truly wonderful Christmas!

We hope yours was, too!