Happy Holidays, What Has Been Your Favorite Moment So Far?

Well I thought this was a great question as I sit here on Christmas morning waiting on coffee and for little people to wake up!! My favorite moment this year was when I was at Walmart of all places. I was feeding my 11 month old really quickly so I could get some last minute shopping done and my 3 year old was also in the cart. Every time someone would round the corner he would call out "Merry Christmas!" I was so amazing to see tired and somewhat frazzled shoppers absolutely light up at the sound of his little voice. I almost teared up and realized that a very ordinary moment had become absolutely extraordinary. It was very special :D

Besides watching my daughter open and play with her presents tonight, I received a phone call from a local photography company I get pictures taken from. She said she had a present for my daughter and I and she wanted to drop it by after Church.

Tonight around 10pm, she dropped off a huge picture of my daughter and my grandpa and my daughter in my grandpa's arms (he passed away December 8th) .

I had my daughters pictures taken on my grandpas farm about 2 months ago. The lady who owns the company knew my grandpa had passed away and ordered that picture in a frame for my daughter and I :)

Hubby had surgery on Monday so I've been on a baking binge this week. The UPS guy was surprised when I gave him a plate full of yummies! Put some money in the Salvation Army bucket. Took a plate of goodies to the next door neighbor and discovered she wasn't doing anything for Christmas so she'll be joining us today for dinner. Really, it's doing nice things for other people that make me happy. Merry Christmas mama's!

Our daughter has just arrived a few days ago from college. We have not seen her since August.

Seeing her with her grand parents last night and then another set tonight, has been very joyful. They look so proud of her and you can tell they admire her and her hard work. She seems so grown up and is really good about showing them she is interested in everything they have been up to also..

Now that I'm a grandma, my experiences are a little different but just as good.

My favorite pre-Christmas moments (it HAS to be plural): helping my schoolteacher daughter as she rehearsed her class for their Christmas presentation, which they performed for their parents and the rest of the school. Performing (with the church choir) Handel's MESSIAH - in its entirety! Saying goodbye to boxes packed with out-of-town gifts as they went out the door to the Post Office. Packing up and labeling bags of fruit for my husband to take to the neighbors. Trimming the tree - one of my very favorite moments every year. Last night's church service. The anticipation of seeing all my children and grandchildren later today.

My most un-favorite moment: waking up a half-hour ago to a strange noise and finding that one of the cats had just given me the gift of a hairball right by my face. Merry Christmas!

The first night my daughter was home before everyone else arrived. Staying up late with grandkids bouncing off the walls while their parents rested. Cleaning the kitchen with my niece. Shopping for stocking stuffers. Merry Christmas!

This is my daughter's second christmas. Last year she was almost 1 and was more confused than anything else (adorable). This year? Santa was very, very generous (all the Weebles omg where am I going to store them???) and when she came out of her room and saw everything, her jaw dropped and she started jumping up and down! That was SO funny to see!

And of course, her favorite toys are the Weebles! :)

My husband being home this year from Afghanistan!

The whole family went to church and then went for a steak dinner. On the way home, we laughed and told old telephone pranks we did in our past.

watching my 2 yr old want daddies present a foam shooting gun knowing he is getting one of his own and doesnt realize it. we were wrapping it and he had a fit cause he couldnt have it. its going to be even more cool watching him daddy and his brothers shoot each other a foam gun war.

the candle light service at church was awesome the whole room was dark and with all the candles lit it became light again. lit enough you could see everything. that is what happens when we all unite in the light of god.

My favorites were bonding with the future in-laws. Having the whole family for christmas dinner.

AND The best part for me at least was when I was carrying my 22 month old daughter down and her mouth dropped wide open when she saw the tree and what Santa had brought her. :)

As I outlined in O. of my PPs, I think my FIL, new gift nose hair trimmer in nostril, with a toothpick in his mouth, while humming tops MY list for 2010.