a magical morning

Christmas is long gone. Well it's really only been two weeks, but our tree is packed away, next to our four stockings. There is no trace left of the holidays. The house has a feeling just like January. Just like when you drive through Starbucks and they are no longer offering delicious latte flavors and are suddenly handing you the original green cup, instead of the festive red. Brand new. Bare. Starting over.

We prepared with many rolls of gift wrapping, tape and a few bows. We baked cookies for Santa and left reindeer food in our backyard. Sprinkled a little oatmeal, sequin dust to help Rudolph and his gang find their way to our house. I think the reindeer food was Mason's favorite part.
 

But Christmas this year was a magical morning. Two little men, four tiny feet, tip toed in excitement in to our living room. Anxious to see what Santa had left behind. Cookie crumbs, an empty glass of milk, and lots of goodies indeed.

Mason was infinitely more calm than I expected upon arriving in front of the gift filled tree. He inspected the crumbs Santa left and quickly questioned why and better yet, how he had moved our coffee table. His first words were "wait a minute...". So, he's not even four years old yet and he's already a cynic. Maybe this whole magical gig won't last long.

The minute Max woke up (or was woken up), Mason started to get a little more enthusiastic. He knew it was time to dive right in to the wrapped stash awaiting their twenty, warm little fingers.

Stockings were handed out. M&M's were devoured. Mason was astonished that Santa knew he wanted a new slinky and even better, he brought an identical one for his toy snatching brother. Peace on Earth people. The best gift of 2010 - spinning toothbrushes and bubbles. Looks like Mr. and Mrs. Clause could have saved themselves a lot of time and money.

As usual, the frenzy and high level of enthusiasm didn't even faze Max. But the cookies Santa left behind, oh those deserved loving. Thrilled that breakfast was not only M&M's, but sugar cookies TOO! It was almost like waking up to a white Christmas. Merry Christmas Maximo.

Slowly, the mound of not so perfectly wrapped presents shrunk. Each box revealed a fun new something. A new toy, a box of chalk, a fun board game - "oh mommy I am so proud of Santa for bringing me this. I dreamed of it all night long" was a phrase repeated after each gift. Among the favorites were a toy vacuum, new footie jammies, and some play doh. These kids are easy to please.

Can you see the joy in those sparkling eyes? The pure exhilaration in his face? So worth every minute of holiday frenzy to have this picture.

And it wouldn't be Christmas morning with out some warm coffee, a million pictures to sort through, wrapping paper for days, new, matching jammies and the brotherly choke hold in front of the tree.

The boys had quite a busy morning. Full of sugar. Full of excitement. Full of family, kisses, and loving. Full of North Pole charm. A magical morning indeed.