We had a very nice, relaxing little Christmas at home. We decided to stop traveling on Christmas and it's been a great decision. This year, Theo was really into all the traditions and excitement, which was really fun.
On Christmas Eve, we had a picnic on the living room floor with appetizers. We had a fire going and let the kids watch the cartoon Grinch while we ate. Then we drove around and looked at Christmas lights. While we were gone, Reindeer (our elf) left to go back to the north pole until next year, but he left us gifts to open and a note. Christmas PJs for everyone! After we got changed, we read Twas the Night Before Christmas and then put Lucy to bed. After she was tucked in, we wrote to Santa, sprinkled magic reindeer food on the lawn and had donuts by the fire. Susan went to bed early (sick on Christmas, boo!) and I stayed up and went to midnight Mass.
The next morning, we just watched the kids open gifts, had a nice breakfast and then lounged around and played with new toys, watched Christmas movies and Skyped with the grandparents. I made a little dinner - ham, potatoes and green beans and the kiddos went to bed a little early while Susan and I played a card game.
I didn't open a single gift and yet, I had a wonderful Christmas. I loved watching the kids open their stuff and play. Quality time with all 4 of us at home was all the present I needed.
We have one more Christmas in January with Susan's family and then we will finally get to rest and relax and take a break from traveling. With all the birthdays and holidays that consume us from October through Christmas, we've been so, so busy. We've already packed away all the decorations and gotten the house back in order, so we are one step closer to a few low key months.
Hope everyone's Christmas was as nice and family centered as ours!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Christmas, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Talking!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Snowman cookies.
Another Pintrest find (love that site!) was snowman cookies. Made from Nutter Butters, melted white chocolate, M&Ms, orange tic tags and black icing. Theo was able to help quite a bit with these and they turned out very cute.
Handprint ornaments.
I found this idea on Pintrest and they turned out so cute! I bought a box of shatterproof (key when working with a 3 year old!) ornaments at WalMart, painted his hand and then put the ornament in his hand and told him to close and open gently. Worked great! I used Sharpies to make them into snowmen and tied a cute coordinating ribbon at the top. Inexpensive and they were a big hit with the relatives.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Christmas in Richmond.
This past weekend, we did Richmond Christmas, which we started last year. As we have grown and started our own families, it becomes harder to balance visiting grandparents with the kids wanting to be at their own house for Christmas and us wanting to start our own traditions. Thus, Richmond Christmas was born. We pick a weekend that works for everyone and decend upon my parents' house for all the festivities. Last year it felt so much like actual Christmas, I couldn't figure out why carols were still on the radio the next day!
We had a good time, only it would have been better with Susan who was holding down the hospital, as usual. Theo had a great time with his cousins and Lucy let me know she is still not ready for other people in her space. We saw Santa, ate out for pizza and pancakes (Theo's faves), watched Christmas movies and the kids got spoiled with gifts. Theo is still talking about his cousins. He also surprised me by sleeping very nicely on an Aerobed like a big boy. He's so flexible and easy going, I just enjoyed him so much on this trip. My little buddy.
A very good time was had by all.
Legendary Santa.
Well, it was "legendary" all right! When I was a kid, this guy was known as "the real Santa" or "Miller and Rhodes Santa." He's a big deal. So big, we got tickets to see him instead of camping out at 7am like others we saw. This required 11 people to be fed, dressed and out the door by 7:10am (yes, we actually did it).
Anyway, the kids got to see him come down the chimney, they met the Snow Queen and Santa called them over by name and thanked them from coming all the way from NC to see him. Magic. Theo actually did enjoy himself, in spite of this picture. Lucy reacted pretty much how I thought she would.
It was still fun and magical, as I always enjoy doing something with my kids that I did when I was little. And I swear, this is the same guy after all these years. Santa really is magic, I guess.
