Ho, Ho, Ho! Christmas Day!

Ho, Ho, Ho Christmas morning came.

Santa Claus came.

But more importantly Baby Jesus came.

He came long ago in a manger in Bethlehem.

Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!!!

It was Christmas morning and Kirk and I began the juggling balance of traveling back and forth and back and forth again between our parents' houses - they live 15 minutes apart. It might sound like a lot of work, but honestly it is a joy to not miss out on a thing. Connor waited patiently with Clay to see if Santa had come down Lin-Lin's chimney. And when we said go she raced into the living room and found he had come. He even ate the cookies and drank the milk!
The man in the red suit even came at Cara's house! Right next to the perfect Christmas tree!
Cara has a wonderful tradition to track the growth of her family. Ever since they were wee boys she has them sit on the stairs "pre-Santa" for an anticipative snapshot. Now us girls are allowed into the annual shot.
We lit the Christ candle in Cara's advent wreath...
...and indulged in Cara's traditional Christmas breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls, sausage rolls and egg strata. Yummy! The Willingham boys were cute as can be sitting all in a row and enjoying their Mama's morning treats.
It wasn't too long before the food was devoured and the stockings and presents were opened with gusto and glee. Connor was a big fan of her green hat from Mexico!

Then it was back to Lin-Lin and Paw Paw's to open even more presents. What a day!

Connor had the unwrapping down pat by now.

But it wasn't too long before the post-present-coma took over and Connor was ready for a nap. While our lil beauty slept we partook in a mouth-watering adults-only hen dinner. An ode to my grandmother who made hen for her family every single Sunday as mom was growing up.

That evening it was back to Cara and Poppa Ed's home once more for a Christmas night party with special family friends. Connor had fun showing off Cara's nativity collection. Here she has grouped 3 or 4 creche scenes together. Don't you just love the wooden one in the left front with Joseph holding Jesus up in the air?

Poppa Ed and his good lookin' boys enjoyed some 'guy time' on the back deck laughing and joking in the flicker of the outdoor fire pit.

What a Christmas day. Sacred and holy, full of food, gifts and love. Yep, definitely worth traveling across the ocean to be home wrapped in family fun and joy.

Click here for our full album of Christmas photos