Christmas...a little late? :)

So I'm getting ready to create my 2012 Blog Book and realized I hadn't even put a single Christmas picture on here...so here I go. :) 

This first one is of Brian for one simple reason...he's dressed. :) In just about all the Christmas morning pictures of our marriage I have never been able to include a picture of Brian because he's normally in his underwear...hahaha. Probably more information than anyone wanted to know but that's the simple fact of this picture...he's dressed...and it's Christmas morning. :)

 With the kids being a little older we have convinced them to sleep until 7:00 am...or at least let us sleep till 7:00 am. I believe they even gave us an extra 5 minutes this year as our Christmas present. :)

 Nick was most excited about the present he his holding in his hand in this picture below. It is an autographed picture of his favorite "Snake" guy that has a ton of videos on You Tube and owns the store Nick bought his snake from...and you know how much it cost me - NOTHING!!!! I just emailed the guy and asked him if he would send it and he did with a personalized note to Nick...very cool guy!!!!!

 The big gifts this year were IPADS...woot woot. Unfortunately the "magic" of Christmas is probably over for my kids because when they both asked for these as their gift, I let them know that "Santa" meaning, "Mom and Dad" (as they well know) doesn't spend that much on Christmas. But because it was the ONLY thing they wanted they asked if they could get them if they chipped in some of their own money...which they did...and they got them. Two very happy kiddos!!!

 My favorite Christmas present was that Bryson got to come home on 11 days leave for the holiday. It was awesome seeing him and spending time with him. We love him!!!!

 

I'm choosing to remember all the wonderful things about Christmas and not dwell on the VERY TRAUMATIC thing that happened the night of our Walker Christmas Celebration at our house a few days before Christmas...my dad falling down our front porch stairs and ending up in the hospital. But prayers were answered as there were no serious injuries and he came home from the hospital on Christmas Day. We are so thankful that it wasn't worse, even though the injuries he did sustain have been a long time healing.

We are grateful for another year together as a family and look forward to whatever 2012 has in store for us!!!