Christmas Day

We were awakened early by loud claps of thunder and heavy rain but luckily the kids didn't come running into our bedroom until a bit later and were kind enough to cuddle with us while we parents fully came to.

They went and fetched their stockings and emptied them onto our bed.  Then we got up and enjoyed a hot, seasonal breakfast, Apple Cranberry Oatmeal Bake with a good glug of pure maple syrup.  After family morning prayer, we went to work divvying out gifts and opening them.  We had a good time watching the kids get into it.

Then took a load of wrapping out soon followed by a load of packaging materials, which seemed less tedious this year thanks to box cutters we inherited from Susan's apartment--Thanks Grandma Sue!

We played, ate, listened to music, and talked with family until just after noon when the rain stopped tapping on the windows and skylight and the white stuff began to cover the world in a frosty blanket.  Yes, we got snow on Christmas Day!  It was quite "magicful" as our daughter would say. 

"It's cooooooooold!"

Neal found out that from the National Weather Service Fort Worth, TX that the last time there was snow on the ground on Christmas Day was in 2009, that snow fell on Christmas Day was 1997, that there was accumulating snow on Christmas Day back in 1975, and heavy snowfall was recoded on Christmas Day way back in 1926.

We ended getting 4-5 inches but the new reported just over 3.  We went out to feel the chill, see the beauty and pummel the neighbor kids with snowballs. Okay, so we tossed a few and gave a friendly "Merry Christmas!" but we still own this street!  Rhys actually voluntarily wore a real hat (as opposed to the bucket we've now hid from him.  Grandma J would be so proud as she spent the time making the hats for the kids.  

At dinner the snow as almost done dropping it's load but Opa and Oma were still able to make it to us from her parents place in West Monroe, LA.  We enjoyed catching up about our LA family over spaghetti and salad.  Then we opened up more presents from and to them.  I'm sure they were tired but it was great to see them playing with the kids.  

After more cookies and chatting, we said our good nights and Merry Christmases and soon called it a night ourselves.

We feel so blessed it so many facets of our lives.  Thank you to all that are a part of that.  Merry Christmas!