Christmas morning

You know how you put

expectations

up too high sometimes?

Well, I do that often as a mom

and got a reality check this Christmas.

We were really on top of things.

I felt like that commercial

where they checked off

"Done, done, done!"

And for us it

was happening much earlier than usual

this year.

Then came the big day.

Christmas Eve for our family.

Started out as planned....

setting out the cookies,

opening one gift,

Mr. and Mrs. Santa

staying up late

to set out gifts

and fill the stockings.

The boys all snug in their

matching pajamas

perfect for the

"First Tree Sighting"

picture on Christmas morning.

Then,

as Mommy and Daddy's

heads hit the pillows~

a scream

from the bedroom.

"I puking!"

The stomach bug

invaded our home that night.

Luckily it was

short lived

and the boys

were recovered by morning

(not in cute matching PJ's

like I planned, but happy and ready to roll.)

And so was Gracie!

They didn't care about

being mismatched

while storming through

their gifts.

My super-hero's!

Have I mentioned

this boy LOVES to play ball?

I mean LOVES.

I have never seen a baby

so obsessed with one thing before.

My Combine!!!!

YIIPPPPEEEE!

And a little surprise for Daddy!

(Don't shoot your eye out!)

 We probably should have got 2 of these!

And here is the after.....

I started feeling funky during gifts

and sure enough,

bug got me.

I had planned our traditional

Christmas brunch,

Christmas Eve Church service

and Chicken and Dumplings dinner.

But that didn't happen.

I was so disappointed to miss all that

but it did make me realize

that maybe I expected too much

and needed time to slow down and rest.

I follow a few blogs

and noticed that it was all the Mommies

getting sick

on Christmas.

A little over-ran perhaps?

So, while I listened from bed

on our Christmas

to the boys happily playing with their new toys,

I told myself~

rest.

Its OK!

(that was difficult!)

That evening

Daddy and Big Guy

went to Church

and Baby and I snuggled

in front of the fire.

I have to admit,

as much as I hated missing Church,

I cherished this quite

with my babe

and new our family

would go to bed

that night

together

and

happy.

love, the rockinryans