South Carolina Christmas

We were especially lucky this year to celebrate Christmas for a second time this past week when Mimi, Grandpa, Beanie, Mia, and Gawa came to visit. Santa Claus was gracious enough to make a special trip to our house in South Carolina on Tuesday night, and he left an abundance of goodies for our family.

This was my favorite Christmas season so far with Luke. He's old enough to enjoy all of the anticipation and excitement leading up to the holidays, and remembers traditions from years past. Everything is magical to him, and his enthusiasm for all-things Christmas is contagious. Luke received a scooter from Santa, and he looked like such a big boy riding around our neighborhood on his new present:




Each present (from stocking stuffers to the toys highest on Luke's wishlist) was thrilling to this excited little boy:





Luke helped Leah open her stocking, too, and was a very good big brother, telling her about each item and "sharing" in her toys and joy:



Leah's first Christmas was magical, too. My favorite memory of her this year is from Christmas Eve church service, dolled up in her fancy dress and red shoes. Leah stood on Mark's lap, and I looked over to see her sweet profile, with her mouth in a perfect "O" shape, "singing" Glooooooooria, during "Angels we Have Heard on High". Watching my baby girl and listening to her clear, pure, angelic voice is a moment that I'll hold in my heart forever. I know I'll never hear that hymn again without smiling at that memory. Leah received her first baby dolls, a baby cradle, and lots of girly toys and clothes this year for Christmas:






Leah took everything in, was fascinated by colorful, crinkly wrapping paper, and somehow got a bow stuck on her bottom (I promise we did not stage this!), which stayed perfectly attached for much of the afternoon and was adorably funny:


Nutty loves our new Wake Forest tailgating table and is already gearing up for next year's football season:





We're starting our own family traditions and carrying on some from our own childhoods. The children receive special ornaments each year that they'll put on their own Christmas trees when they grow up. They also received their own personalized "Cookies for Santa" plate which we'll use every Christmas Eve for Santa's treats, although Leah had her eye on those sweets and almost got one:





We also read Twas the Night Before Christmas right before bedtime to prepare for Santa's arrival:



What a full, wonderful Christmas holiday we had this year! Here is a slideshow that wraps up the rest of our South Carolina Christmas: