Chasing Parker: Christmas 2012 {Recap}

Christmas 2012. It has quickly come and gone, just as fast as our tree went up. I had high hopes and expectations for this special Holiday that I hold so dearly in my Heart. I wanted to make it as special as possible for Parker because most of the fondest memories of my childhood come from the Christmas season. My hopes were that Parker would and will continue to experience the Christmas that I had as a child. It goes like this.. A very relaxing Christmas Eve day (clean the house, have some breakfast and prepare for Christmas Day), get dressed in your best Christmas Eve attire, spend time with family over a nice home cooked meal and attend Christmas Eve mass. Christmas day... Wake up early and wait upstairs while the adults make their morning coffee (let me enforce the WAITING upstairs part, which feels like years and years, as you are eagerly wondering if Santa came! and no peeking!), go downstairs and open presents (but first you have to find your "pile"). Christmas day is very relaxing; after opening presents comes a delicious breakfast and lounging in new PJ's while playing with all the new toys and goodies. The air is filled with giggles and excitement as everyone is just so happy. The smell of coffee and eggs and bacon fills the room with the best aroma. The clock stops ticking and time stands still. No one has to be anywhere; there is no agenda. The only thing anyone needs to do is spend time with family and enjoy each other's company. Soak. It. All. In.

So, I think it is official. Parker experienced his first Christmas that went exactly as momma planned. Happy momma. A joy filled Heart I had on Christmas. Even though Parker is too young to really understand what was going on, he will see the pictures when he gets older and know that the traditions were carried through on his very first Christmas. The feeling I had walking downstairs on Christmas morning (after Daddy made his coffee!) to see if Santa had indeed made his way to our house and fit down our...wait, we don't have a chimney! Parker didn't know what was going on but momma and dad sure made it feel like a special day. Like everyone says; "don't spend too much money, all he will need is wrapping paper and boxes", couldn't have been more true. This momma, I mean..Santa.. got Parker some new books and toys, which he can enjoy the entire year. Daddy got Parker his first "recliner," which he L.O.V.E.S. It is the epitome of the term "little King" when he is sitting in that chair. Around Noon the family arrived at our house for a late morning Christmas Day brunch. Once again, eating and relaxing with family, just what Momma ordered. Shrimp cocktail, brie cheese, crescent rolls, eggs, sausage and fruit are the smells that filled the Stalls household. Giggles and happiness were heard all around. A brisk walk to the Park in the near frigid weather; bundling up in all the new winter gear and Moby wrap.

No sooner than it all started, and Christmas was over. Parker's first Christmas in the books. Lots of pictures to show and tell when he gets older and asks what it was like. All of Momma's traditions were carried out, which makes for a happy momma.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and were able to show your children a wonderful Holiday. What are YOUR favorite traditions?

And now for the pictures...