Alright, finally Christmas pictures...

I know, it's the middle of January and I'm just now getting around to posting Christmas pictures.  Well, I have no excuses other than it's just been busy.  Anyway, here was our Christmas in a nutshell...

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Minnesota.  Our Christmas Eve was quiet.  We chose not to go to Christmas Eve services because we would have had to leave Jackson with a sitter and I just didn't want to do that.  It's was our first Christmas and I wanted to spend it together.  We stayed home, baked cookies, enjoyed the beautiful snow and opened presents.  It was just perfect.

Here is Jackson getting ready to open his first Christmas present.  Of course he didn't understand what was really going on but he seemed to enjoy it!

Jackson opening his first present.

He puts everything in his mouth these days, including his new Run DMC and Star Wars shirts.

His new teething toy, apparently a must-have and he really loves it!  I have no doubt that teeth will be appearing soon.  He's been drooling like crazy and he will bite anything that comes near him.

And of course, his new Christmas jammies!

I love this picture!

After presents we read "The Night Before Christmas."  As a child I practically had this book memorized.  It was so much fun to read it to Jackson on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Day we all went over to Carol and Casey's house for more present opening and a wonderful Christmas dinner.  Casey does such a wonderful job making the stockings for everyone.  Here is Jackson's new stocking.

Jackson and Gramma Carter inspecting one of his new toys.

On Christmas Day night, we finally got around to opening stockings at home.  By this point, I think Jackson began to get this whole present thing. 

And finally, the day after Christmas we all piled into the car and made the long and slightly scary trip to Iowa.  The snowstorm over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had left the road ice and snow covered and the Iowa DOT said that travel was "not recommended" where we were going.  We were determined, however, to make it.  I really didn't want to miss an Iowa Christmas, especially since it was Jackson's first Christmas.  We packed the car with extra blankets and our warmest coats as well as water and some snacks (just in case we got stranded somewhere) and off we went.  We made it in about 6 1/2 hours (it usually takes about 4 1/2 or so).  The last hour was capped off by completely snow covered roads and Jackson screaming in the backseat.  Despite my best attempts to calm him down, he had had enough of that darn carseat and wasn't going to take it anymore. We were all happy when we finally pulled in the driveway at my parent's house!

Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures of the actual present opening (I think we were so exhausted from the drive and happy to be out of the car).  Here are a couple from the next day, however.  Jackson got plenty of cuddles from Grandma and Grandpa!

Anyway, it was a wonderful Christmas made much more special with Jackson in our lives!