Christmas Morning Now and Then...

Christmas morning 2016 was magical...just as magical as it's been for these last eight years.  At 6:35 a.m., I heard quick, excited footsteps leave Lewie's room.  Then, I felt a gentle pat on the back.  "Mommy," he whispered, "Santa came.  He left presents!"

"He did?" I questioned with surprise.

"Can I open them?"

"Of course."

I grabbed my camera, charged from the night before, and attempted to take pictures of Lewie (without Daddy sleeping in the background).  Daddy tried to stay awake to watch the magic but kept on falling back to sleep in his lounge chair.   Mornings aren't his thing, especially early mornings.

This year, Lewie had sent a letter to Santa with three simple requests--Portal II, Skylanders Imaginators, and Star Wars the Force Awakens--all for Xbox One.   To make this Christmas well-rounded, and not all about video games, Santa also brought Laser Tag (for the back yard), Dan TDM's latest book, Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal, and the silly card game, "Gas Out."  

As each present was opened, Lewie squealed with excitement and delight.  It's during this moment (every year) when I hold back tears of joy because I'm so grateful--grateful to have a little boy that fills the house with so much love and laughter every day--and grateful that Santa, once again, has managed to create a rare moment of awe and wonder.

One more picture after the sun has come up...

And...here are a few pictures from 2009, when Santa first made the magic come to life...

Yes, we had a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree.

To all my friends and family, I hope joy and wonder came to your house this Christmas too and stays the whole year through.  Sending love, peace, and blessings from our home to yours!