Our 2014 Christmas

We filled our home with friends and family on Christmas Eve, a tradition I would love to keep for The Christmases we stay here. After the last of them left, we gave the kids the one present they were allowed to open--Christmas pajamas--and tucked them in for the night.
 Nate and I cleaned the kitchen together and once we were done, I pulled out the bags of stocking stuffers that were hidden away and started to stuff. Hair ties, socks, undies, peanut butter trees and matchbox cars. I was completely exhausted by this time, but the sheer excitement of the kids opening everything the next morning was enough adrenaline to keep me awake for a few more hours, not wanting to go to sleep.

It was in this moment that I realized I am my Mother.

 Of course, I couldn't have picked up on any of her other amazing abilities and character, but one thing I did pick up on: I love me some Christmas. Everything about it. Buying things throughout the year at great deals, keeping it stuffed in bags in my closet for months, wrapping them and piling things under the tree, stuffing stockings to the brim and wearing a smile for the entire day of December 25th. Christmas, I have discovered, is so much better as a Mom. The joy of giving, seeing their faces, the twinkly lights, wrapping paper everywhere and most of all, celebrating Jesus....I just can't get enough of it.

We always start our morning out with reading Luke 2, just like my dad always did with us.

Brooke really wanted an American Girl Doll, but there was no way I could or would spend that much on a doll. I found an amazing deal on Felicity off Craigslist a few months ago, and she was so surprised--I even got a few tears. Priceless!

Nicolas slept through most of his first Christmas morning, but did manage to wake up in time for stockings. 

Mommy got a new lens... ;)

Surrounded by brand new toys, and all they want is each other. This.

Happy First Christmas to my Nicolas Picolas Pie!

There is something about Christmas morning that requires a big breakfast. We grew up on it at my grandparents every year, another tradition that is carried on. I love tradition--old and new. I love taking bits and pieces of my childhood and fitting them together with new traditions that we create to make the perfect memories for our own little family.

 Quiche, hashbrowns, snowmen pancakes and cinnamon rolls. We go all out for Jesus' birthday!

We Facetimed my family and grandparents, and once again I was so thankful for technology. Getting to see my Mom's face as the kids opened gifts, and saying Merry Christmas face to face to my grandparents from thousands of miles away is so special! 

 Nate's Mom prepared a delicious Christmas dinner at her house and we ended our day watching The Muppet Christmas Carol. We arrived home stuffed, exhausted and completely happy.

 The day after Christmas, I tried like 10 times to start cleaning the house. Somehow I always ended up on the floor, playing a game with the kids or curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee watching them play.

Last night was early bed time and this morning, early rising again for school. Back to work for me and back to our usual routines and schedules. My tree and all of my decorations are still up, and I'm still listening to Christmas music because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye for the year, but they'll come down soon just in time for the next big holiday... my birthday!!

 Ha, just kidding. 

 I hope you all had a lovely and memorable holiday season. I'm still mulling over New Years resolutions, but I do have 2 words for this year to share with you soon.

Merry Christmas!

Well.

 It has been a while, hasn't it. Waiting this long to blog can get really overwhelming to me as I feel like I have so much to catch up on. I'm not going to do that, though--just gonna pick up where I left off, because life flies by and there is way too much to post. I will just do a quick snippet of the past few months, and then focus on the past few weeks--CHRISTMAS!

 October and the beginning of November were spent surrounded by my favorite people. ;) We managed to get a family picture of all nineteen of us which was quite the experience! Special thanks to Devin and Sarah for putting up with us while we yelled, screamed, laughed and tried to be somewhat organized...the picture actually turned out GREAT considering how many of us there are!

Not too long after the last of them had trickled out, my best friend, her husband and baby came to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. Thanksgiving gets higher and higher in my book every year, and it is just about level with Christmas. Cooking and baking and eating and focusing on what we're thankful for--the whole week is focused on our blessings and I love it so much.

We didn't go home for Christmas this year, so we were able to experience all we could here during the month of December. Of course we started off the month by picking out our tree, even though it was 70 degrees that day and didn't feel a thing like Christmas.

Traditions continue: youngest puts on the first ornament and works up from there.

Tree Lighting

Last day of school before Christmas break!

Baking with Aunt Allaina 

Trail of Lights

Young adults Christmas banquet

 Best thing ever... SNOW! They made snow at a nearby outdoor mall and even though it was a total mad house, it was such a great memory for the kids! 

During Christmas week, we rented a huge house with Nate's side of the family and stayed there for a few days. It was a total blast! The house had 2 fireplaces, 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms and was a total maze--easy to get lost in. ha! We cherished every moment spent together--talks, games, late nights, shopping and  eating and walking on the beautiful river walk.

The family picture this year... I am so thankful for my "in-laws"--it doesn't even feel right to call them that because they are truly like my own family.

When we came home from our mini vacation, I had a few hours to dash around and prepare food for our Christmas Eve party we hosted after church and Christmas brunch the next morning. It was so much fun and I promise to blog about it all soon.

 Until then, I hope each of you had a wonderful Fall and Christmas season. I am overwhelmed with God's mercies which are new every morning!

Christmas in our Hearts

Christmas is done big at my parent’s house, one of the many reasons that I love coming home for Christmas. The eating starts a good week before. The pile of presents under the tree grows each day as my Mom continues to pull out more from her stash in the closet. Baking doesn’t stop, because all of us fear that “we don’t have enough cookies” when we figure out all of the platters we have to make; obviously, a freezer full is just never enough. Our extended family is close, and we all make the effort to be together during the holidays even though we all have families of our own now. For as long as I can remember, my grandparents had brunch at their house Christmas morning, but this year they moved it to the Sunday before and it worked out great, with kids running everywhere, people filling whatever chairs they can find, talking and laughing and eating for about 6 hours straight. 

 We wake up Christmas morning to a beautiful white Christmas. There is something almost magical about a White Christmas. All the songs sing of it and when you experience it, you know why.

 My Grandparents arrive to watch us open our gifts, but not before Mom makes pancakes and we all sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. This is a family tradition that reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. And also allows us to eat pancakes, always a good thing!

 The present opening takes time, because we do not all open at once in a chaotic manner. One person at a time, so we can all see what each other got and ooh and ahh over it. Presents take no less than 2 hours, and we cherish the moments together.  Accusations of “SHE’S HOARDING!” are yelled out often, which implies that someone has a rather large pile and hasn’t opened in a while, because they want to save them until the last possible moment. My Mom smiles bigger than she does all year, because she gets to watch us all open with delight and thankfulness. My dad buys my Mom his usual gifts—shampoo and deodorant from the Dollar Tree, a calculator with huge numbers and measuring cups, and saves the beautiful diamond necklace and pearl ring for the end. They both laugh hysterically the whole time, because they are the best sports ever.

When we start to feel sad that present time is done, we remember that there are still stockings to open and then all is right in the world. Because stockings are, without a doubt, the absolute best part of opening presents.

After presents are over, we attempt to clean up and usually eat the Peanut Butter Tree that was in our stocking, because it’s Christmas after all, and you must eat chocolate at breakfast time. The kids play with their toys, happy and content, and we sisters continue to compare what we got, try on clothes, and talk about how we will use our gifts. It’s glorious, the way the family is in complete harmony and happiness. My dad is usually saying “It’s all over”, and we argue, “No, we still have Poppy”, because he’s coming over later for Christmas dinner. He’s been in Florida for the holidays for over 20 years, so the fact that we get to spend it with him this year is really special to all of us.

 He arrives with shrimp, Grandma Roma’s Eggplant Parmesan and a beautiful Rum cake, and bags of presents for the kids.  My dad’s beef ribs have been on the smoker since the early morning hours, and they come out, cooked to perfection. The table is set and we do something we never have before: enjoy a formal Christmas dinner. This Christmas was full of “non-traditional” according to how we normally do things, but I’ve learned that different isn’t worse. In fact, it’s usually just as fun if not better. We stuff ourselves once again and stay around the table for a while.

The best thing about Christmas is that when it's surrounded with love, family and giving, the spirit lasts so much longer than 24 hours. December 25th only comes once a year, but the warmth stays in our hearts all year long.