Early Christmas snapshots part one

Christmas Eve - kids exchanged gifts (book).  Kinsley's reaction tells me this is a tradition to keep

Hugging to say thank you

Daddy reading "the" story

Santa and his loot

Had to tell this one it was safe to come out this morning

Reading a note from Santa - serious business 

Excited 

Overjoyed

Optimus!!!! 

Baby carrier!!!

The vanity

Time to play

The real Merry Christmas

Remember to enjoy your family, embrace your loved ones, and take a step back to really appreciate today.  

Honestly, I can't wait to see what type of freak out my younger sister has this year (it happens every.single.year).

Christmas Eve - a little empty

Christmas Eve used to be so much more than it is today.  For 24 years, my family (brother, two sisters, and my parents) went to my grandma's (mom's mom) house to celebrate with her.  My grandfather died when I was in second grade, so it was mostly just my grandma.  I used to wait around all day in anticipating to go to her house, begging my parents to go sooner.  She always made some type of roast with more sides than you can imagine, along with one of my favorite desserts of all time church windows (a log of chocolate with colored marshmallows rolled in it - I will make it and post some day).  After dinner we would open gifts in her family room and enjoy each other's company.  It was always extremely late when we got back home.  My dad yawned throughout "The Night Before Christmas," but always trudged on.  We left our cookies and milk for Santa and headed upstairs to attempt sleep. 

Christmas Eve, since my grandma's death over five years ago, just does not feel as special. 

"Merry Christmas" - a little early

I hope you are all home and not dashing to the stores in a last minute rush for gifts.  

We, on the other hand, are probably suffocating in mounds of Christmas wrapping paper.  

I hope my three little ones are filled with joy and amazement on our Christmas day.

I know I have all that I could ever want or need 

Friday Night Leftovers on Thursday

• No, it is NOT Friday, and indeed is Thursday.  Due to our out of state travels, today is Christmas Eve and tomorrow is our Christmas.  
• Another week full of sick.  I took Eligh and Kinsley in to the doctor Tuesday due to high fevers and a bad cough and near loss of voice for Kinsley.  
• Kinsley was tested for strep which thankfully she does not have.  
• Eligh got on the scale and the nurse asked him to step off because she thought the scale was not working right, but nope he really only weighs 28 pounds, a whopping six less than his twin.  Hung my head in shame. 
• I was supposed to have my nerve conduction test this week but had to reschedule due to Cody being called into work even though he was approved to be off.  Now I wait until January. 
• Rebecca wrote pretty much how I have been feeling this week about the should I/shouldn't I work. The hubby would like me to simply stay put until the twins go to school (nearly three more years until full time due to September birthdays).  
•  He does not control me, he is the logical one when I am being torn in different directions and can't sort out all my emotions. 
• We put the three gifts we bought the kiddos under the tree on Monday and they have asked every single day if they could open a gift yet, even though they know tomorrow is Christmas. 
• Addy had a Christmas party this week at her school and keeps telling us how much fun it was and she can't wait till the next one.  No concept of time, this one. 
• The kiddos exchanged gifts this evening before bed (books).  A new tradition I think we will continue. 
• I CANNOT wait until tomorrow morning when they wake up to see what Santa has left them.  Addy is the most excited this year and the joy and excitement is contagious.  

Stop by our host, Danifred, and maybe leave her a boy name to help ease her frustration with finding the perfect name for "Blue."

Wordless Wednesday - gingerbread house

This year was our very first year making a gingerbread house.  I bought a kit, which I assumed met you could eat everything.  But, nope, the house is made of who knows what.  I did not get fancy, simply threw the icing on there, and let the kids do with it what they wanted.  We will do this tradition again, but I would like to find a kit or make one from scratch that allows them to eat the house itself.

I can really do this, right, mom?

Here I go!

This is awesome, mom!

I do know that I will not take on any villages after hearing the horror story of Danifred.  

Tasty Tuesday

This past weekend some elves invaded my house and helped me bake cookies.

First, we made some peanut butter blossoms

Then, we moved on to chocolate crinkle cookies

Finally, some sugar cookies

*Let me add that these three children have eaten maybe five cookies out of all of these cookies.  Grrr