Oh, gosh, you guys. Christmas is just my FAVORITE. I savor this time of year so much, when we are able to spend extra time with family, continue our Christmas traditions, relax, and give thanks for all we have been blessed with, most importantly our Savior's birth and the beautiful relationships we hold so dear in our lives. Here, a look at what our Christmas week has looked like 'round these parts:
We kicked off Christmas weekend by going on our traditional holiday dinner with two couples who feel like family. This was our fourth year celebrating together and I look forward to this meal with these people each year. It didn't hurt that dinner was fantastic (see also: mouth-watering seafood tower...). It was a perfect start to the weekend! Also, we came home to find two sweet sisters, snuggled up and fast asleep together in one little crib. <3
Christmas Eve Eve, we were invited to join our friends for the second year of "boat caroling," during which they decorate their boat with lights, pull it behind their truck, and we all ride in it all around our 'hood, while singing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs. So.Much.Fun.! We love you, Sund family!
On Christmas Eve morning, I joined 14 other awesome ladies from 'hood for the Jingle Jog at 8:00 am sharp. It was as great way to kickstart a full, fun day!
On Christmas Eve morning, I joined 14 other awesome ladies from 'hood for the Jingle Jog at 8:00 am sharp. It was as great way to kickstart a full, fun day!
Later that day, we also decorated our cookies for Santa and made sure to spread our reindeer food.
That afternoon, we attended the candlelight service at our church, which makes me cry every year! It is just SO beautiful. AND, they always invite the elementary school children to join their parents in the sanctuary for this service; so, it just feels extra special having my big kiddos there with us to take in the beauty and awe that is the story of Jesus' birth.
Then, that night, we watched Home Alone as a family before Banks read us 'Twas the Night Before Christmas followed by Daddy reading Jesus' birth story from The Bible. Finally, it was off to bed for the kiddos while my hub and I enjoyed a couple adult bevs during our annual viewing of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (never gets old. ever!).
On Christmas morning, my hub and I awoke before the kids, around 6:15 am. We were just so excited! We got up and got the coffee going while I put the two breakfast casseroles I had made the night before in the oven. We turned on some Christmas music and then took the annual excited-kids-at-the-top-of-the-stairs photo before allowing them to head downstairs to see if Santa had come...
...and he did!!!!!! Ohmygosh. The joy, the shrieks, the smiles, the squeals...just PRICELESS. All four kiddos were so excited to see what Santa had left them. <3
Our weird/odd/strange/funny/bizarre story for this year's Christmas? Here goes: a few weeks ago, when we visited Santa, Raleigh out-of-the-blue asked for....wait for it...a wheelchair. Ummm...what?! He assured her they were fresh out in his workshop but that he would do his best to bring her the "calling watch" she had also asked for. Problem solved, right? Wrong. Because when we went to Winterfest last week, and she wrote and mailed her letter to Santa, she let me read it and this time, begged for a wheelchair. Y'all. I can't make this stuff up. I have NO idea where this came from. And Santa decided not to gift her with a wheelchair. BUT. He decided that, through the magic of Christmas, he could leave her one to play with just for the day. So, he did, along with a note letting her know he'd be back that night to pick it up, after she was fast asleep. Needless to say, when she saw it sitting in our family room Christmas morning, the look of shock and excitement on her face was priceless. Strange? Yes. Something we will never forget? YES! That thing was the highlight of the day for her! And a BIG thank you to our elf friend who made our little one's Christmas wish come true. ;)
ANYWHO, we spent the entire day spending time together, just the six of us: we played so many fun new games together (magnetic darts! shuffleboard! "The Floor is Lava!" "Toilet Trouble" [hilariously perfect for a preschool boy!], Xbox games, "Seek-A-Boo," etc.) and worked together to complete a 550-piece puzzle; we enjoyed the gorgeous Christmas weather, playing basketball, going on walks, and swinging as high as we could; we FaceTimed grandparents and messed around with new technology gifts. We just enjoyed the day so much.
And then, we stuffed ourselves silly with the mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and steaks my hub deliciously made, not to be outdone by the scrumptious chocolate chip cookie skillet our sweet friends gifted us (Love you, LaPointes! ;) ). By the end of the day, we were full and happy and oh so thankful for what was, without a doubt, my favorite Christmas Day yet. <3
And then, we stuffed ourselves silly with the mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and steaks my hub deliciously made, not to be outdone by the scrumptious chocolate chip cookie skillet our sweet friends gifted us (Love you, LaPointes! ;) ). By the end of the day, we were full and happy and oh so thankful for what was, without a doubt, my favorite Christmas Day yet. <3
Yesterday, we continued with our Christmas time traditions: a Momma Date to the outdoor ice skating rink in Rock Hill, South Carolina. This was the third (or was it the fourth?) year I took my big kiddos ice skating, and this year, Harrison was old enough to join in the fun. It was a beautiful, sunny, mid-50's kind of day, and we had a blast!
And now, we will close out Christmas by spending time with my hub's "side" of the family. We look forward to this weekend so much each year, and I cannot wait to get some good quality time in with our Nana and Pop and my niece, nephew, and brother and sister "in law." Great family time, conversation, memory-making, and fun await! I'll be back next week with one last post for 2018. Until then, be well, friends. And GO TIGERS!!!!!
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