Merry Christmas! (Picture heavy)

I have to say...Christmas is a lot more fun when you have a child who is walking and talking!  Miles's first Christmas was not the greatest experience, because of the unexpected passing of Brandon's mother the week before.  But he was also only 5 months old, not capable of really enjoying it.

So this year, even though money is tight, we were determined that he would have a fun and special Christmas!  We decided to start a tradition of giving three gifts to the kids, even though this year's ended up being one big gift and a regifted toy (ha!).  And we decided to do a themed stocking each year.

**Spoiler Warning -- The following includes some talk about the "magic of Christmas"**
As for the Santa question, we are going to "allow" Santa and he will be a part of the celebration, but we will make no bones about the fact that Santa is make believe.  He will know who gives the gifts so he knows who to thank.  He will know the real reason for Christmas is not presents, but the gift of God's son.

So here's how our Christmas Eve and Christmas morning went:

We had our Christmas Eve service at 6:30pm.  I could not have possibly had more to do for this thing, so we were there early, dressed in holiday colors.

That sweater that Miles is wearing was Brandon's when he was little.  It has a little B embroidery on it.

After the Christmas Eve service, complete with singing and candles (which Miles adorably tried to blow out for the entire final 5 minutes of the service), we came home and had a quick, late dinner.  Miles had 2 Christmas cookies that were iced and just his size.  He kept saying "More?  More?".

Brandon got Miles dressed in his Christmas PJs from Grandma and Grandpa Kehrer and then we set out cookies and milk for Santa.

 

Then Brandon read him The Night Before Christmas next to his little Christmas tree and got him nestled all snug in his bed.

    

Here's Miles hamming it up for the camera!

After he was in bed, we got to work getting the living room ready for Christmas morning, which meant the stockings would be filled, his big present put together, and getting the room "staged" just right (I'm weird like that).  We watched "Four Christmases" and ate caramel corn and Santa's cookies while we did that.  We decided not to wrap the presents, because he doesn't really get into unwrapping.  He'll most likely "get it" by next Christmas, or by his 2nd birthday.

This morning, Miles woke up a little past 8:00am (we felt grateful for that...we're certain we won't be so lucky next year when he has more anticipation about gifts) and while I put some Christmas music on, Brandon changed Miles's diaper.  You have to be fresh when you open gifts, after all.

Here's Miles coming out on Christmas morning to see his presents!

And a few more of him playing with Elmo's Restaurant:

And some pictures of the presents and stocking-opening.  The theme for his stocking this year was Coloring.

      

After all of that, we had breakfast and Brandon read the Christmas story to him from the Bible...well, his Kids' Read To Me Bible, with an abbreviated version.  Mom had made us a coffee cake when she was here a few days ago, so we had that (Miles didn't eat it because it had nuts in it).  Then Miles and Brandon played and watched Sesame Street while I cleaned up the kitchen and made some cookie dough.

Now Miles, Brandon, and both dogs are all taking naps and I'm doing this :-)

We're having goulash (Brandon's mom's recipe) for lunch, lasagna for dinner, and later (when Brandon goes out for a church member's funeral visitation hours) we are going to deliver cookies and fudge to a few friends from church.