L-R Clan: Christmas Joy!

In spite of Glen's surgery and healing throat, we had a truly wonderful Christmas. As is our tradition, I hosted Christmas Eve dinner. This year, it was Grammy and Papa's turn to come over, and Uncle Jay made it too. We kept it pretty low key... Glen was feeling pretty tired and sore, but had a wonderful time.

Probably the sweetest moments came when it was time to open presents. Glen was so happy to have everyone else open the presents he made or was part of picking out first, and absolutely insisted that we finish before he started on his own pile. It was very sweet, and wonderful to see a five (and a half) year old experience the joys of giving.

A Christmas tradition for our house is to have new jammies on Christmas Eve. Here are my little elves, shortly before dreams of sugar plums dance in their heads.

(Aww... to look at this picture, you'd think they actually like each other. No "tackle hugs" here!)

The next morning we awoke to the much-anticipated gifts from Santa. Maddox said he heard Santa come in last night, and heard him munching on his cookies. It was fun to see the boys differences in approach... Glen went straight for the stocking, and Maddox concentrated first on the wrapped gifts.

They both must have been very good, because Santa brought them everything they asked for! Glen got his airplane and his "bad Hulk..."

And Maddox got his Spiderman watch, and his "racecars."

Glen said that mom and dad must have been good too, because Santa even filled our stockings. I had several fun hair accessories and some wine glasses, and Tyler got a sweatshirt and a CD he's been wanting. Thanks Santa!

After the traditional breakfast of cinnamon rolls (ice cream for Glen - it was Christmas, after all, and he just had surgery), it was off to Grandma and Grandpa's house.