Momma.Ratzzi: closing christmas.

finally, christmas pictures are here, i take a million pictures, making it SO hard to narrow down to just a few, out of a million i normally have several that i love. most holiday pictures are kind of redundant with all the unwrapping, etc. we spent christmas eve eve and most of christmas eve in small town friendly with my family. it was a must to see the lights downtown, they are the absolute best and a part of our every christmas past. it was so cold so we weren't out there long but i managed to snap a couple favorites (one of which I already shared in the merry & bright post- which was my absolute fave of them all!) christmas eve night we made our way back home and prepared for santa to make his infamous visit- we had to make our reindeer food get it scattered in the yard and of course make our cookies for santa. by the time we made it home it was nearing midnight so it was all a bit rushed but none the less a great time. the hubby and i exchanged our gifts for one another after we got lil' man all snuggled into bed. christmas morning we woke up to a little boy asking about the cookies and milk if they had in fact been eaten by santa- and much to his wandering mind- they had. then he spotted it- the presents spread out over the living room floor and the smile that crossed his face was priceless..."whats that?!?" he said..."what's that do?!?" "hoho, prizes!!" he was one excited little boy- and it had only just begun. i spent the next couple hours making some food to take to my mom's for our annual christmas lunch where we exchanged gifts and ate and ate and ate, GREAT food. still, our christmas wasn't over. we came back home and there was the presents he had waited and waited to open wrapped in his special "cars" wrapping paper- it was finally the time and i think he honestly didn't believe us when we told him that he could finally open his presents from momma and daddy. it was a wonderful time!! we have spent the rest of our time attempting to clean up and arrange all the new toys (did i mention that i do believe we own all of toys-r-us now?!?!). all the smiles and laughter, excitement and anticipation, time spent playing with the kid, snuggled up with the hubby watching t.v., is really the best of all the gifts that i have been given- and it's the gift that keeps on giving, i get to enjoy them everyday! now all our christmas is taken down and stored away- awaiting next year when we will take it out, put it up and enjoy the traditions of the holidays. as i sit here and write this i cannot believe that a new year is vastly approaching and i can't help but wonder what all it will hold, i'm excited...it's a big year for me- it's my 5 year anniversary with the hubby and i turn 25 years old (a little bittersweet, but mostly exciting- it feels officially adult like- although i have been an adult for a while now, it just sounds more "old" i guess you could say). i am eager to bring in the new year with my family and to celebrate my brothers 21st birthday.

i have a feeling, deep in my bones, that this year...

this year is going to be...

GREAT!