What a Merry Christmas it was

After having the craziness of going back to school, and sorting everyone's schedule out I was ready for the break.  The Christmas season seemed to fly in and out this year which makes me very sad because it is my favorite time of the year.  I love all of the fun activities that the season offers, I love the smiles and uplifting attitudes (why can't that last all year) and most of all, I love the family time.  We were very blessed this year again to have pretty much all of our family present for Christmas.  We had a slow start to the Christmas festivities because both boys ended up fairly sick with a nasty cold right before school got out.  However, we still made the most of the time we had.  Aaron had a fun Christmas party at day care that Mimi so graciously attended.

A few days before the holidays, the boys and I went to my moms house to make gingerbread houses..  My mom found Snoopy gingerbread house kits at the grocery store which were perfect, this season he was totally into Charlie Brown Christmas.  Jacob sat in the high chair and watched as Aaron, Mommy and Mimi decorated, Aaron had the best house by far.

Then, the Wednesday before Christmas my Dad, Barbie and Spencer arrived for a few days.  I feel so fortunate that they are willing to travel down here each year and spend Christmas with the boys.  I love to have that time for them to wake up to them, play with them, and participate in the bedtime routine.  We went to Church on Christmas Eve, and my mom and Rick met us there as well.  It was a great service which was followed by "real snow" for the kids.  Well last year we didn't even go out there because we knew Aaron was probably too young.  This year we decided to give it a try and he was still not too sure.  However we did get a cute picture or two.

Then we headed back to our house for our little family tradition of steaks and potatoes for Christmas Eve dinner.  This year we started the ever so popular tradition of a Christmas Eve box.  In the box both boys got new pj's, a stuffed animal, a movie and popcorn.

We woke up Christmas morning and did breakfast and Santa at our house, my mom and Rick came over.  Then after we had showered we headed to my mom's house for the mass of presents and dinner.  It was so nice because everyone including Jon's mom, dad, sister and grandma were there.  I love that we can spend the holidays with all sides of our family together.  I am also forever indebted to Nora and My mom who do a bulk of the prep and cooking for these holidays.  I do not have pictures on this computer of the mother load of gifts we had but the boys were spoiled and love all of the new toys they were given.  As we were loading up the gifts to haul home, Jon made the statement of "We are doing this at our house next year".  So, I guess I will have the opportunity to repay them since we will host most of Christmas next year.

Here are some other random pictures from the season.

We hope everyone had as Merry of a Christmas as we did.  We hope that the start of 2015 finds you rested and in good health.  Our house is in pretty good shape in the rest and health category, we hope it stays that way for awhile.