Team T2E2: Christmas 2010...when it snowed!

What a wonderful holiday we have had! I have really enjoyed this Christmas break, being at home. We have had family and friends to keep our house full until today. It seems so quiet. But I like it that way. What way? Both! A full house and the quietness afterwards. I love all the conversations and laughter with everyone when we pile into this little living room. I love hearing the kids giggle and play with each other when it is just them in a bed.

As I sit here, in front of a beautiful fire, I think what has taken place the last week. The spirit. It was felt here. And when we were blessed with a white Christmas, we were able to see His artwork and beautiful canvas! I smile as I think of the highlights...you know there have to be some with my two kiddos.

I start with having to, once again, wake the kids up at 8:45 (because we didn't want to wait any longer). Then there is Hunter-who didn't want to open any gifts once he walked out and saw that Santa had brought him an Iron Man transformer. He is going to be that kid, I believe...coaxing him into opening the rest of his gifts. Hope played Santa's helper (a tradition we started years ago to help her learn to recognize our names in writing). Typically she hands out all the gifts and then we would open. This year she decided to get one for her, one for Hunter and rip into the paper. This was repeated a couple of rounds and then we suggested to her that she pass them all out. It helped the process. It was great to have Uncle Todd, Grandaddy and Nonna with us Christmas morning!This was the year of the games for our household! We have played, Operation, Don't Spill the Beans, Perfection, and Memory so far. I love when we have family fun with games! Here are pics so that you guys can try and capture the craze of Christmas day at the Walters' house!

mailing letters to Santa (this is also the same time, Dec. 20th, we found out what Hunter was asking Santa for)...

Hope asked Santa...much to her daddy's liking..for a "real" bow (along with Junie B. Jones books and a scooter-which she got from family members as presents). She has already been out shooting at a target and loving it. Expect a future blog on this...pics are already in progress.

Hunter asked Santa for Ironman (and no, he had never seen the movie-where do these kids get this stuff?), a motorcycle-later added with a remote, and big cars. Well, he got the ironman transformer and the cartoon movie (umm, watched it today-not on my favorite list). He got a big fire truck from family. He is a bit distraught about the motorcycle. I told him he might could get one for his birthday and he told me, no...he will wait until next Christmas-he wants it for Christmas. Oh that boy!

Here are the kids relaxing by the fire...

Craig did not like me taking this pic because it is incriminating evidence....what if the kids see it? See, we don't put any presents out until the kids go to bed so that they wake up to the full surprise in the morning. Either way, I had to have a before picture to document the chaos...so, this is the before....

And this is the after....

This was also the one year anniversary that my Papasan went to be with the rest of his family in Heaven. I thought about him and just smiled-I know he was enjoying watching his great grandchildren on this special morning. It is amazing how fast a year has gone.

The snow was absolutely beautiful! It was the first white Christmas in Clemson since 1960 something! We got up and had an amazing snowball fight, made snow angels and saved some snow in the freezer (Hope had put a bowl out to catch the snow) for snow cream-which, by the way, I made tonight and it was super yummy!