Christmas at Home

Ten years ago. 

That's the last time I didn't do any traveling for Christmas.  Since graduating high school. Tyson, too.

Let me just say how nice it was this year to wake up in our own beds, in our own home.  No living out of suitcases or basing gift giving choices on what will fit in the car.  Most of the presents were opened in the same place they were wrapped, no worrying about how weather would impact our travel plans, not having to plan much, really, at all.  Maybe best of all is that we actually got to enjoy our Christmas decorations for the entire month of December.  

"I wasn't touching anything!"

For the first time ever, we had people visit us on Christmas Eve.

And Nanas and Papas who bring us chairs that are just our size make us very happy.

Big gift this year: a train table.

The set up.  It was strategic.  It was intense.  It was elaborate.

It lasted for all of five minutes when Caden and Brooklyn saw it Christmas morning.

It was also a really big hit.

Cries of "Choo choo!  Choo choo!  I choo choo!" to be heard all the live-long day.

 

I can't tell you how many times I went to pick Brooklyn up from school in Madison to find her playing with this house.  I happened to spy it in a store a few months ago, and was so excited to tuck it away for Christmas morning.

 

Nothing could take away from the choo choos for very long, though.

Little drummer boy:

Nevermind.  CHOO CHOO!

 

Proof that we did actually make it out of our pajamas on Christmas Day.

The 26th though?  Another story entirely.  Choo choos and jammies for all!