Merry Christmas To All, and To All a Goodnight

Here we are. Christmas Eve Eve (Don’t worry Sam – I’m on your team – Christmas Eve Eve definitely exists).

Our gifts are wrapped (at least mine are – I think the Dude has yet to start his wrapping. He thought he could pay me to do it but considering Eva and I are the only ones he bought for, I vetoed that idea).

Our stockings are hung.

Our bags are packed (or, um, are in the process of being packed).

And we are nearly ready to celebrate our first Christmas as a family of four …. yes, Nika still exists …. no we’re not expecting another baby.

Tomorrow the Dude will be working a partial day. Then we’ll spend the afternoon as a family.

In the evening, we’ll head to M&Ls for food and games.

Then we’ll come home, and for the first time ever, we’ll tuck ourselves into our very own bed in our very own home on Christmas eve.

We will wake up on Christmas morning (and most likely a few times before that unless Eva wants to give me a real nice present) and open the stockings that Santa will have left here the night before. Then we’ll grab some breakfast and return to the tree to give each other our gifts.

Then I’ll wash Eva’s diapers while E takes down the tree (sorry – the magic of Christmas only goes so far, we still have to be realistic), pack up our stuff and head up north to visit the Dude’s family.

We’ll spend a few days there laughing, eating, visiting, eating, opening presents, and eating.

Then we’ll head to my folks’ place to spend a few days with my family and celebrate our Christmas over New Years.

And I couldn’t be more excited!

Although it’s special every year, this year Christmas feels even more special because I’ll have my girl by my side (or, um, on my boob) the whole time.

She is the most blessed Christmas gift we could ever imagine. In fact, she was our Christmas gift last year, we just didn’t know it yet ;)

I’m sure I’ll pop in at some point here and there over the holidays, especially if there are any blog worthy moments to share, but I don’t plan on spending a lot of time online.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I pray rich blessings on you and your families this holiday season and in 2011.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours.

(Updated to add: Yes, this is our real Christmas card that we sent out this year)