Ho-Ho-Ho....zzzzzzzzzz......

I apologize for any of you who read the "Christmas Blog Post" that appeared around 1:00 am on December 26th.  The Grinch A very sleep/endorphin deprived Momma must have hacked my Blogger account... In any event, I got away for a short little run around the trail today (Thank you Gregory!), and I got my Chakras aligned. I'm good now. Here is my more accurate Christmas account:

There is nothing more magical than Christmas with Littles.  I am so thankful to have had my eyes re-opened to the mystery and awesome excitement of Christmas, thanks to our Little.  Forget breaking the bank - we pulled up our sleeves and made gifts this year, except for my not-so-baby brother, Piercy Joye's Uncle Joe! Run to Central Market, sweet brother, and take another cooking class pronto! You've got the gift, Brah!

Thank GOD for Pinterest, whose success must certainly be, at least partially, a byproduct of our current national economic situation.  I love getting back to the basics: making modest gifts for those we love.  As Piercy's sweet BeBe said to me when I broke the news that we were doing A Handmade Christmas: "I cannot even remember what I received last year."  It's clearly not about the gift, but the spirit.

I can assure you that neither set of her grandparents, nor her parents, will ever forget the first Christmas we've all had in many, many years with baby in tow. Thank you, Little Preciosa, for how you have changed our hearts!

...And now, I must schedule a champagne run to replace the "New Year's" champagne that Greg bought last week in preparation for one of our very most favorite parts of the holiday season.  C'mon, honey, you know a girl can't resist the bubbly!

OH! And here are some of our most favorite December photo ops.  Enjoy!

Christmas Card Photos at The Texas Capitol (Thanks Mom for taking pics!)

New Texan

Just. Precious.

Home Depot Shopping for a Tree

Helping Daddy

This is definitely it, Mom.

Have you seen my boots with the fur?!

Visiting Daddy at his "office," the airport

I'm about to see Santa!

Dad?

Excuse me, sir... Is this real?

Spinning under the Zilker tree

"Mom and Dad let me stay up really late, and we went on this adventure in the middle of the night...." 

To the tree, to the tree!

More spins with Daddy

Merry Christmas!

The shower is Mommy's favorite get-away...

Look what I can do, Ma!

Riding in the pack during chores

Out of Control Christmas Cards Collection! Can you spot yours?

Sweet Little Advent Wreath (I heart you, Pinterest)

Stocking Family

Mommy's handiwork on the Newest Stocking

Rudy ol' Pal

The first of a few of my favorite Tree-nkets! BeBe made these soldiers and we've inherited them. I love them.

Brothers' Bells

Cheers!

My Frosted Fruits

This dopey guy is so adorable!

Santa!

This year's wreath, up-cycled with tree trimmings from the free Home Depot bin and a few decorations from last year

Our Japanese Maple decided to get dressed up for the season

Yes, we all wore purple.  Missing the Schmidt sissies in our annual LBJ girls Christmas Dinner photo op...
Auntie Brita, Auntie Kim (A future Mrs!!!), and Moi.

Christmas Eve Rip at BeBe and Pops' House

Happiness!

Loving. It.

Please and Thank you.

Someone Stepped In Front of the Camera...

Christmas Morning with Dad!

Tired Eyes

New Baby Recorder from Santa!

Little Percussionist like Daddy

Maps? Puzzles? Must be that Flanagan Blood!

Merry Christmas from a few first-timers! We are so thankful for each other, our family, our friends, and most of all for God's greatest gift, His Son.  Happy birthday, Little Lord Jesus!