Santa visits Jackson

Christmas is really about the kids. I want every Christmas to be special for Jackson. I remember as a kid always having to travel on Christmas day. It is nice to see your extended family but as a kid it is hard to open your gifts and play with them for a min then have to rush and get ready to go. Then you only get to take 1 gift in the car for the long ride to Grandma's house. So we started or own tradition of staying home as a family and spending the day together.

Jacks was so excited when he woke up and Santa had stopped by. I think he was most excited about the fun bows on the gifts. He really liked all his gifts.

After opening a few he was ready to try to open them himself. There was so much to see that he wanted to stop and play with each gift. You may think a 9 month old has no idea what is going on but I think he did.

He did not look so excited about getting a book. But Santa knows how important it is to read.

He just loved all the bows and wanted to pull them off. When he saw there were more PJ's in the box he was ready to go back and play with the bow.

Then he got to get in his new walker and started running. MawMaw had let him bring one home over Thanksgiving and he just loved it so Santa got him one.

Next Brent and I got to open our gifts. Brent got a hunting bag and a gift certificate to get some boots. I got a new watch and a gift certificate to a Spa.

Then it was time for the special Christmas morning waffles (this is another tradition the Kent family is starting this year). So I put on my new apron Nana Kay made me and started cooking. It was nice for us to sit down and enjoy a great breakfast together.

But Jackson was ready to play with his new toys. He played so hard that we could not get him to take a nap until the afternoon (he usually naps at 10 AM). Then after his nap he played some more.

For the past (at least) 8 years we have been on the road on Christmas day. This makes it not feel so much like Christmas. Last Christmas was a beautiful white Christmas (but we were still on the road). This was the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER for all of us. I know that it was mostly due to Jacks....but it was also because we started our own family traditions and got to enjoy the day at home as a family. Everyone has always told me that when you start your own family Christmas is so much fun. I want to say THANK YOU to all our family members for working with us and allowing us (Brent, Jackson, and myself) to enjoy the day and not have to rush around. We look forward to (at least 18 more years) spending Christmas at home as a family.

Later that night our neighbors came over and gave us some great gifts. I took their picture with the gifts I knitted for them.