This is the stuff Christmas movies are made of.

We woke up to 2/3 of our children cuddling us in bed.  The third joined eventually (she’s a late sleeper).  Looking out the window, we were excited to see a winter wonderland awaiting.

We made our way to the kitchen and listened to Christmas music while enjoying a filling and yummy breakfast of perfectly cooked pancakes and eggs.  All the while, we kept catching glances of the snow falling peacefully out the kitchen window.

After cleaning the breakfast dishes, we bundled up and headed outside, Levi in the traditional hot pink 2T snow pants because we keep refusing to buy another pair when those fit just fine.  The snow was just right for rolling a snowman, which we decorated with a hat, scarf, coal, and red licorice.  We even put a face on both sides so we could see him from the living room window.

Then we headed to The Hill with our sled.  When we had exhausted the Daddy, taken sufficient video and pictures, and half-frozen our poor dog, we headed back to the house.  After systematically undressing snow-covered children one-by-one, it was back to the kitchen for cocoa.

We were enjoying the afterglow of snow and chocolate and discussing Christmas presents when a small dark bottle was thrown at me from above.  In movie-quality slow motion, I recognized the bottle and lifted my eyes to see that Levi had climbed the pantry shelves and drank half the purple food coloring.

I love our life.  And that’s not the least bit sarcastic.  Nor was that.  Seriously.  It’s the perfect mix of excitement, peace, mischief, and love.