the most emotional moment

i expected to go through a lot more emotions than i did this christmas break.
honestly, i just didn't have the time! taking care of, managing, having fun with, feeding a family of 8 just doesn't allow for many emotions to be processed!

but...the most (only?) emotional moment i had was the night of dec 28.
we went to my parents house to celebrate christmas with them.
it was SO fun.

but, when we gathered in their living room for the kids to open their gifts, the memory from that same moment last year flooded back without warning.

last year, as the gifts were being passed out to each child, my mom had given me 2 gifts - for the 2 boys we were waiting for. it took me by surprise at the time...and meant so much...

{this was last year...}

and this year??
i was sitting there. with those 2 boys we waited for for SO long RIGHT THERE...in my lap and asking me questions!
i was overwhelmed. for about 30 seconds and then i had to move on :-) but the beauty of that moment has echoed back many times in the last week or so!