December 25

I love Hamilton's Christmas pajamas especially on Christmas morning as he examines the contents of his stocking. We opened a few presents this morning before heading to church for Redeemer's simple service. Gathering as a church family to celebrate the birth of our Savior was a good reminder to me and my family about why we have Christmas.

December 24

After our Christmas Eve service tonight, I corralled the kids for a picture. Getting Hamilton to keep still long enough is nearly impossible, but the expressions from the other two were so sweet. And I imagine Collier's tugging on Hamilton's shirt to say, "Come on, Hammie, act right for the picture."

December 23

This morning the kids opened some gifts from Mimi and Pops so as not to overwhelm Hamilton on Christmas morning. Claire's gift was a Puzzleball, so she, Mr. Morgan, and Uncle Travis have been putting it together all morning. Lazy vacation days are great for fun toys like puzzles which Mr. Morgan enjoys as much as Claire.

December 22*

Last night we enjoyed a Christmas dinner with both our families. Uncle Travis brought Yahtzee which he and Claire played all evening. Only cute antics from the baby could entice them to take a break.

December 21

Tonight we visited the Holiday Festival of Lights. Claire enjoyed roasting three enormous marshmallows over a big, communal fire pit.

December 20

Last night I spent the latter half of the evening wrapping presents after the kids went to bed. I actually spent some money this year on matching wrapping paper, decorative ribbon, and tags, so now under our tree is stuffed with pretty presents. As usual, the excitement of wrapping gifts made Mr. Morgan and I want to exchange our gifts for each other immediately. So we stayed up late for gift-giving.

December 19

Hamilton loves to color with some company, so tonight after dinner Mr. Morgan sat down to color with him. Then a fly started buzzing around. Mr. Morgan cracked Hamilton up with his clapping attempts at killing the fly.

December 18

Our church's annual Christmas dinner and talent show was tonight. I have pictures and videos to post from Hamilton's and Claire's performances later, but I love this picture of Hamilton's little friend West. As the crowd listened to a bagpipe performance, West showed his feelings for the sound with his fingers firmly planted in his ears.

December 17

While dinner was baking, Hamilton pulled up a front-row seat for watching the train go around and around the Christmas tree. When I said dinner was ready, he looked for a second like he might choose watching the train over eating--though I knew he was hungry. But the rumbling belly won. Claire spent the afternoon creating and decorating a journal for herself--and making a big mess on the coffee table that she had to guard once Hamilton awoke from his nap. She's so proud of her cute journal, and she's excitedly begun writing in it already--information and drawings of cats, naturally.

December 16

Claire's writing invitations for an impromptu piano concert she's giving tonight for Mr. Morgan, Grandma Judy, and me. She even created programs for each of us with an order of songs written. She serenaded us with all her favorite songs and her latest pieces. She said she doesn't want to feel nervous at all during recitals anymore; apparently she got a little nervous once the recital started last night. She declared she'd give impromptu concerts to us often, so she can get used to performing.

December 15

I visited Hamilton at school today during their Christmas party. I always love to observe him in a different, but familiar, environment. He ran around the room while I got to sit back and snap pictures. I have more shots to share in another post, but I like this shot because it shows him--mouth open, giving West an earful about that cookie. Even his posture looks like he's lecturing. Aahk! And a professorial sweater vest, too?!

December 14

Since today was pajamas day at school, Hamilton didn't have to get dressed after breakfast. He loved just keeping his "jah-mahss" on this morning. As we were waiting for his ride to school, I wanted to capture his new Christmas pajama set from Mimi and Pops. He quickly grabbed the gingerbread-man ornament he made last year at school and said, "A cookie! I bite it!" Somehow I was able to interject my "No, it's not a cookie!" before he chomped down--while I was taking this picture. If I didn't know better (or know Hamilton's tendency not to pose for pictures), I'd think this shot was staged.

December 13

Hamilton loves to play on the piano. He especially loves to push the buttons for the different instrument sounds!

December 12

We finally got our Christmas tree up and decorated this weekend; now our house feels festive. Appropriately we always have a live tree in our house, and we cut a Carolina Sapphire this year. I tend to like my Christmas trees wild and woolly.

December 11*

The boys love to play in the piano room which houses the Christmas tree this season. I've spent lots of time straightening out the tree skirt, rehanging ornaments, and picking up fallen needles so Collier doesn't sample them as a snack. I love how Collier is fixated on Hamilton who's obviously in motion with his silly antics.

*Didn't even take two weeks to be late on a DPP post.

December 10

How can a cute kid get cuter? Put him in reindeer antlers.

December 9

We finally pulled our Christmas decor down from the attic and decorated our tree tonight. Hamilton loved playing with Claire's nativity. Grandma Judy gave Claire this sweet nativity several years ago, and every year she loves to open the boxes with each nativity character and set the figures in a place of honor. Claire showed it to Hamilton this year, and he fell in love. How sweet he was moving the figures around the nativity and trying to tell the story just as she had told him.

December 8

Hamilton's school Christmas program was a bit anti-climactic for the two-year-olds' parents. We patiently waited through several cute songs from the older kids only to have Hamilton's class thrust on stage just before the last song. Since Hamilton and Grady had not been at school during the dress rehearsal, they were mesmerized during their song by the costumed kids and lighted decorations. Most of my pictures show Hamilton--head turned, mouth agape.

December 7

Sliced bananas drizzled with almond butter and topped with golden raisins replaced a huge bowl of ice cream as my nightly snack. After a few weeks I truly didn't miss the lactose-laden dessert.

December 6

I've been snapping pictures for our church's website, and last Sunday I caught this little guy not singing along with the other kids. He couldn't help himself from turning around to find the camera.