Christmas Catch Up

We had a great Christmas Year. The week leading up to it we were all sick with some sort of respiratory/fever junk. It changed our plans for the week gearing up to Christmas for sure but I was thankful all the "had to's" were done and made us slow down a bit and just enjoy being at home together. Chris and I even worked a 1000 piece puzzle something I really enjoy doing but haven't done in years!! (did that just knock my dorky level up a few notches?:))

We were all well enough by Christmas Eve to enjoy a few typical traditions. We made a birthday cake for Jesus and got to go to our churches Christmas eve service. It was packed but wonderful!! We came home to a crockpot full of yummy potato soup that might just have to become a Christmas Eve tradition. The boys gobbled it up!! We got the boys in their Christmas jammies, set out cookies for Santa( I kept meaning to do a post about how we do Santa - never got to it so I'll save that for next year!!), and let the boys open one present( a yearly ornament). Cort got one from Disney World and Cohen got a dog ornament that barks jingle bells!!


Cort asked us to write a letter to Santa so he'd know what it was all for!!



On Christmas Morning, when the boys got up(cohen first, we had to wait for Cort), we brought them into bed with us and read the Christmas story out of Cort's children's Bible. Then we all headed into the den to take part of all the traditional Christmas festivities. Cort was really excited about it all this year so that made it really fun. Cohen even enjoyed opening presents this year so that made it even better.

Cort's favorite was the Candy Lane game( that was a total last minute, throw in, great deal find) and a hot wheels race car set(that we got for $2 at a consignment sale) - go figure!!!


Cohen loved his tool bench that was just his size and his jack in the box.


Cort was also really excited about checking out if Santa's cookies were gone and to eat Jesus' birthday cake for breakfast!!( I made a breakfast casserole too - don't worry!!)

After we finished up we headed down to Columbia to do all the family Christmas'. We went to Chris family first this year and had a great time with family and watching the kids play.


We had another Christmas over at my cousins house with them and my grandparents on my Dad's side. The kids always have a great time playing and we should really get together more often. The highlight of the night was seeing my Grandfather play. His mind has been slipping recently and it's been sad to watch but when he picks up his mandolin it's just like he's the same as we always remember.

The next day we headed to my parents house and did Christmas all over again. The kids had so much fun and even though it's all a bit hectic, it's always so much to spend that special time with all the family!!