Christmas morning thrills

We took a lot of photos on Christmas, but this dark, grainy, difficult-to-discern photo might be my favorite.

After waiting for more than an hour for Elysha to wake up and come downstairs to open presents, Clara and Charlie were finally released from their perch on the stairs and charged into the living room toward the Christmas tree.

The excitement in this photo is palpable.

It’s what I remember best from Christmas morning as a child:

Not the actual gifts themselves, but the anticipation and excitement just before the wrapping started flying.

That has always been the best part for me.