How was Christmas everyone? How was Hanukkah? Did you give and receive loads of hugs and kisses? ‘Tis the time of year to reflect on the blessings in our lives. Hopefully we get to do that each and every day anyway. I know I sure do!
What was on your wish list? Did you make people smile with your fabulous gifts? Did you get anything cool? Here are the unwrappings of our day…
A few toys were to be had.
See that bright chartreuse green gift wrap? It was a licensed design I did a few years back for Marcel Schurman. You guys might be familiar with them as the Papyrus brand.
Have you ever seen so many prints and patterns in one place! Between the gift wrap & the multi hued PJ’s this is a visual trip…
A few smiles were to be photographed.
As you can clearly see we are not picky about the tree. My kids decorate it with their dad. It is filled with crafty ornaments from home, school and trinkets from Target. I told ya…nothing fancy but very memorable each year. It is fun watching the kids art change as they grow.
You might be wondering what everyone around here got from the man in the sleigh…
My daughter got a teeny tiny Tiffany necklace. She has no idea what Tiffany is, so the gift my be a bit more impacting when she is bigger.
Look at this gorgeous American Girl holiday outfit grandma (my mom) sent to my daughter. Samantha, the doll all ready lived with us.
Santa picked up that outfit from my mom in NY. Just so you know. Check out all of those details. She has not one but two sparkly broaches, a frou frou head band and her very own snow globe!
Samantha sure is pretty. Look at that flip in her hair!
My little guy scored this Hess Toy Truck from my dad “Papa.” Each year Santa brings one of those straight from NY too.
You might be happy to know that yours truly did not go without…
a sweet ‘lil camera lens that lets in a lot of light!
Now let’s take a look at what happens after all of those presents are opened.
These two happily played with their new toys. Hopefully the excitement will last way beyond today!
How long do you keep your Christmas tree up? Â One of my pals on Twitter all ready took hers down. Last year it took us a few months into the new year to take it down.
We’ll see how it goes this year…
Related Posts on MarlaMeridith.com
- 15 Amazing Holiday Gifts for $15 and Under
- Dream Big Holiday Wish List 2010
- Dreamy Sweets for Santa and Me
- Holiday Joy! At the Four Seasons Austin
Wonderful!
I hope you had a wonderful time.
Cheers,
Rosa
Congrats on the 50 1.2 You deserve it!!!!!!!
With all the WORK, time, effort, and dedication you put into your photography and blog….it’s money well spent and well deserved!
And of course, your kiddos are adorable 🙂
Hi Averie! That 1.2 should be a blast to work with. At least a practical toy that won’t be forgotten about any time soon! Sounds like you had a great Christmas too…in your happy place 🙂
Happy Holidays! I love seeing those Bright little faces on Christmas morning. Mine where thrilled yesterday… and STILL sleeping this morning! (Almost 9 our time.)
Sommer, I was actually surprised that mine woke up later than expected on Christmas…about 7am. I was expecting 5am. They were begging to go to sleep last night though after such an exhausting & exciting day!
Your kids couldn’t be more beautiful and it looks as if you had a wonderful day yesterday. Merry merry and happy happy!!
Thanks Kelley! A wonderful time indeed. Now I need to meet you on the slopes 🙂 xo
Yay, a new lens!!! XO
Merry Christmas! Your kids are beautiful. And so is that lens!
Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas! Merry belated Christmas Marla 🙂
Santa knew you would love that lens! Yay!
The kids are gorgeous and I love your tree. So happy you had such a fun and magical Christmas. Looking forward to lots more amazing photos, especially with that new lens! Love ya!
Angie…Santa sure did know I wanted that lens. An amazing guy huh! Good thing he has ties with Amazon.com 😉 Can’t wait for all the fun that 2012 will bring!
Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and that Santa brought you everything you wished for! We usually put our tree up early (about a week or so after Thanksgiving) and keep it up for a week after New Years. But that depends on how motivated I am to take it down. lol
Hi Sylvie! Ours went up early December…I hope it comes down the first week of January. I hope. We are in Grand Cayman right now so are a little behind in the house chores 😉
looks like it was a win-win for everyone in the Meridith household!! Much love in 2012!
Susan, it sure was a win for all. The most important part was the FUN and no tantrums all day!! Hope to see you soon 🙂
Your daughter looks so much like you! Beautiful ladies you are.
Hi Kale…you are are so sweet! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 xo
Um yeah… I have lens envy… WOW!! We are the same way about our tree… I love the each ornament is placed by my childrens hands, and they can take pride in their creation!
Blessings-
Amanda
Amanda, isn’t it fun to let them have at it? Letting them do their thing makes it all more memorable anyway!
Aw! Glad you had such a wonderful day with your family! We’re keeping our tree up a little late this year. My husband is deployed, so we’re going to keep it up until he gets home. Then we’ll let him open his presents which are waiting under the tree and make him the Christmas dinner he didn’t get underway.
Jen, you are awesome! I am sure your hubs will be thrilled to see that sparkling tree and to be back with his loving family. Awesome for you to save Christmas for him. No one should miss the joy. Here’s to him for dedicating his life to serve our wonderful country. Blessings to you all & I hope he gets home safe to you very soon! xo
Merry Christmas Marla! Looks like you and your kids had a wonderful x-mas! Especially with that lens! Yippee!!
xoxo
Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family!
I’ve bookmarked this post, just for the amazingly good mood it put me in. Thanks for sharing!! I love your posts on a regular basis, but this is beautiful on so many levels…:-). Good to see you’re enjoying and all the best to you and your gorgeous fam – and please keep the tree for a s long as possible, I’d be savouring that one, too ;-)!
Anne, that thrills me to no end that this post makes you happy.Any thing that can brighten our days is a wonderful thing indeed! Keep up that *happy* spirit & I am thrilled that my photos reach out to you in such a meaningful way 🙂
Gorgeous kids, luscious colours and a real Christmas feeling in those photos. I can see that you’re going to put that new lens to good work!
x x x
Hi Naomi, I am so glad you liked this post. I had a blast putting it together for you guys. Hope your holidays are grand 🙂
I’m smiling…this is so beautiful! I have a love tree (as I call them) like u do. Handmade ornaments and a special one from each year. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Christmas was nice here. I’m enjoying the after Christmas calm about as much as Christmas….and I am so impressed that you design wrapping paper!!! So impressed. I want to ask you a.million and one questions…and finally…the photo of your lens is so pretty!
Callye, you are such a sweetheart! I like that you refer to your tree as a “Love Tree” I will need to adapt that name for ours to. It perfectly describes the feelings we have when we put it up and when we look at it. The aprés Christmas calm…I am with you sister. There is nothing like a peaceful + blissful recovery after such a busy time! Feel free to ask me questions any time at all about anything! XO
Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas, Marla!!
Happy Holidays, Marla. I’m excited to see what you snap with that new lens!
Oooo…I want that lens. And maybe the toy truck 🙂
Angela, I know the toy truck is quite the keeper. I will be playing with that thing too!
looks like a wonderful Christmas. What a wonderful present you unwrapped 🙂 Can’t wait to see all the beauty you capture with it! You kids look like they enjoyed it all as well.
Merry Christmas!
My tree is down, everything is all cleaned up and put away. Yep, I’m nuts that way. Don’t know why, because my mom always kept the decorations up until after New Years. I ring in the New Year with a spic n’ span house 🙂
Hi Diane! It was so fun. You are lucky that your tree is already packed up. My hubs usually does ours so I wait until he makes time to do so. Which generally means I wait a good long time. Who knows, maybe this year I will help him 😉
Looks like so much fun! Love your new lens! I got a 100mm macro, can’t wait to play around with it more. And I forgot to get my son the Hess truck, he got plenty though, but I had been getting him one of those every year, they are super cool!
Cuteness x a million! The paper was flyin’ and toys were everywhere. It was such a great day! It looks like you had a joyful day…so glad! XO
Krista, that paper was EVERYWHERE!!
So sweet Marla- It is my favorite thing on earth to watch my kids wonderment Christmas morning. The only one up earlier than them is me, out of pure excitement!
Sweet Marla, I loved this post. Thank you so much for sharing your Christmas morning and your beautiful children with us. The words and the photos all made me smile.
Our tree is down and all of the decorations are put away. I wanted to start organizing and planning for the new year. I am going to put up some New Year’s decorations tomorrow or Friday to surprise the littles. 🙂
Have a great last week of 2011!
OMG. Every year, my NY dad, “Papa” also gives my two boys a Hess toy truck. My dad has a huge collection of old Hess toy trucks and trinkets and he loves passing along his love for everything Hess to the kids. Very cool stuff. Anyway, I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday. The tree is beautiful … and so are your wee ones 🙂
Thanks Liz! That is so cute about the “Papa” in your family. Something about those east coast grandpa’s and their Hess trucks! xo
Awww. It looks like the kids were on Santa’s Good List!
I love these pictures! what a beautiful Christmas!
And you were a designer for Marcel Schurman?!? Need to know more, please!!!
Bridget, actually I was a freelance textile & graphic designer. It was sooo much fun! I sold to many different clients including Marcel Schurman. Now my visual focus is in the form of photography – but so many of the same practices are used in both. I would be glad to catch up with you about design any time at all. xo