The Post Christmas Cocoon

Christmas comes with all its magic and wonder...warmth of family and friends all around you...and then it's over in a blink...and I fight being sad...really sad. Christmas is the fireworks at the end of the year...the days just go by so fast. I know everyone says that....but it's true. Every year I enter, and as a result my children enter a post Christmas cocoon. We Christmased so hard all month...and then for two or three days after Christmas has passed...we just....are. We just are.  We have been in our pajamas for almost three days now...taking baths just to put on a fresh pair.

 In our pajamas we have put together the rest of the gifts...like the Barbie dream house.

 We have put up new favorites that Christmas brought us this year but that we know we will treasure for the rest of our lives.....

 We put the memories of Christmas in our hearts and the decorations in boxes and totes...and found a beautiful, clean space...that we didn't even realized we missed until we saw it again.

 We napped, relaxed and watched movies....

 The boys played basketball games....and held tournaments...and they were amazing basketball stars!

 Justin Bieber Barbie and Fashion Fairytale Barbie got married at least ten times beneath the hot tub lights on the Barbie dream house...

 Lila popped in and out of her new fairy tent...and smiled her beautiful smile every time!

 We opened every new thing Christmas brought us and intermingled it with the old...just like the Barbie tote...where the old and new Barbies live together now... all the new stuff is a part of us and our lives now.

 We played with each other...and with Jack...and enjoyed not having to be anywhere or with anybody other than us....

 I soaked in every detail of these precious faces...and kissed them over and over...because I could.

I enter the post Christmas cocoon with sadness and emptiness, but I always come out revived...and feeling so in love with what I am blessed to have...and I think the kids feel this too....right here in this stairway Riggs called to me from the bottom of the steps...and when I came to the doorway...he just said.."Mom, I love you"...for no reason other than he wanted to...I love that the words I love you forever where right above his head.

Christmas Day 2010

After our family Christmas we didn't have anywhere to go until later in the day. We stayed in our pajamas and it was nice but I will admit it was exhausting! The kids got in que...and for 4 hours straight Jeremy and I opened, put together, set up, put batteries in and downloaded things for the kids. Nana came over and I had made a big breakfast...and we were going to Bumpa's for a big supper...but what about lunch? I really hadn't thought of that and .....I was spent from all the work on the toys...but we made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...and just enjoyed each other...proving that it's not what you have it's who you have it with!

 Later we went back to Bumpa and Grandpa's for Christmas supper and to open presents with them!

 Reagan loved the gun we got him...I bet he told me thank you at least five times! It was so cute!

 And getting back to a Hardy tradition...we played Password...and Jeremy loved it...it really meant a lot to him..to be sitting around the table with his family....playing that game. To make it sweeter he was on the same team with his brother and they won!

 It has been such a fun Christmas season...but it was over..and we were all happy, but tired to the bone. We loaded the car...gave heartfelt hugs...and said goodnight to each other and goodbye to Christmas! We can't wait to do it all again next year!

He came!!! Santa Came!! Our Christmas morning!

 When I got up this morning to take Jack out....Santa had come!

He left things for K-Kate!!

He left things for Lila!!

He left things for Rollins!!

He left things for Riggs!!

I could not wait until they got up! I knew they would be so excited!! At 7 the boys were ready to go...but the sleepy girls were still dreaming. It took a while but we finally got them up...sweet Lila..rubbing her eyes...ready but not ready for Christmas in the same moment!

 And down the steps they came...this was it...the moment they had waiting for...counting down to....

And they were not disappointed!!

 Then we checked our stockings...and Rollins could not believe Santa had come through and brought him an Ostrich shirt....and Jack was so happy to have a new Christmas bone to chew on!

We went right to the presents under the tree...why stop for breakfast?..it's Christmas!! Highlights include...A Nook for Sarah Kate for her love of reading, a Mimi Mouse costume for Lila, tickets for the boys to see the Wizards play so they can see John Wall in action and new bikes!

And then we stopped for breakfast...and the girls and I loved making waffles together for the perfect Christmas breakfast! we ate and talked about what were our favorites...what were the biggest suprizes..and everyone was happy!

 And then Lila crawled up on the couch with her new dog-dog pillow pet and went right back to sleep!

Getting Ready for Santa!

When we got home from Bumpa and Grandpa's we had so much to do!!! We told Jingle Jack thanks for everything..and waved goodbye to him...he would be gone in the morning! :(

 Lila told Jack all about Santa since this was his first Christmas.....

  Sarah Kate put out Magic sparkling Santa dust to light the way for him.....

 And then the reindeer food she had made at school for Santa's reindeer.....

 We put out Milk and Cookies for Santa.....

 And then settled down in hopes that Visions of Sugarplums would dance in our heads on this wonderful Christmas eve night...everyone was excited to see what the morning would bring!