Santa Through The Years

My annual round-up of Santa through the years...still some of my favorite photos! 

The Big Finale: Our Christmas!

We came home after Christmas Eve church in Lake City with Grandma Phyllis. The kids have never been so anxious to go to bed...yet, Joey could not fall asleep and was up until 2 a.m. But, the kids all slept in so we got off to a late start. I like the late start because it makes our morning last longer. But, I'll never forget when my brother, Jeff, woke up at like 3 a.m. and opened his presents...and Heather and I got up and opened up ours on our own. Jeff was always a big fan of Christmas.

We had our traditional breakfast of my mom's blueberry french toast casserole, and our traditional photos pre-opening...

Gift opening began....Some of the main gifts were: Electric toothbrushes (Joey and Maddox), sports soup/cereal bowls (all 3), Sphero Robotic Ball (Maddox); Curry Jersey (Joey); Gymnastics Barbie and a Balance Beam (Saylor); Anki Overdrive (all 3); and Santa gave them some great stocking stuffers and the Pie In The Face game.  We also got them a couple of "classic" movies to watch with them, and a fun Tic Tac Toe game that sits out (the kids love playing that). It was a good morning!

 Even Copa got a few treats and a new toy on the special day!

We went to Aunt Bobbye's for Christmas lunch - it was weird not seeing GG in her usual spot. After that, I took my traditional Christmas nap. And, then we woke up and snacked and played and made Jesus a birthday cake! It was a good Christmas....but it's always so exhausting. I now realize how much work my mom put into Christmas...between the gatherings, the organizing, the gift buying, the decorating, the baking, the planning, the wrapping....it seems that by Christmas day (specifically at 2 p.m.), I'm ready to catch up on sleep....but there's always that Christmas let down on Christmas night. It's all over....it's always a little sad.

We did have one last gift to give the kids....we got them tickets to the Golden State basketball game, and the American Girl Cafe in Minneapolis! They were surprised for sure...it's delayed gratification but I know they will be pumped come March!

This Christmas was a little harder in terms of watching the people I love most hurt or suffer...all I know is that I needed the constant reminder of Jesus and Christmas came at a good time.....

Santa Through The Years

One more post to end 2015....just because I love looking at these so much!!!

Alas....a photo with all three of the kids smiling. I thought it would never happen. Santa got a new green chair though, and I'm not real fond of it. But, hey, we got a good photo....I went home happy! Joey asked how long I was going to make him do photos with Santa. I said for as long as he wanted presents from Santa. It's going to get awkward when I bring 20-somethings to the mall someday.

Santa Arrives! Christmas is here!!!

It was time for Santa to come! We all couldn't wait! On Christmas Eve, we went to Hope church with Heather's family and Ali's family. Um....it was packed. Overflowing. Crazy. It was a bit stressed to be honest....but I kept reminding myself why we were there and that I would not let it get in the way of the message! The church service was wonderful and the music was beautiful, and it was nice to be with family. We went to Ali's house afterwards for appetizers - it was a great spread!!! The food was so good, and the drinks were great. It was fun having Guthrey and Heather there too! We all just sat around and talked, drank and ate. Then, the kids played "Bean Boozled" with gross jelly beans. And, that's when this Christmas Eve became the Christmas "That Saylor Puked Jelly Beans." : ( And, folks, not just a little....she puked a lot. Let's just say this game isn't for her, and she should never audition for Survivor. She couldn't compete in the food competitions!

We went home after that and I came home with a big fat head cold! : ( Joe and I set out our presents, prepared for Santa to come, and went to bed.

The kids were very, very excited to wake up. But....Saylor slept in a little! And, I wouldn't let the boys wake her up! A little delayed gratification never hurt anyone. But, once she got up, it was game on. I told them one photo first and Saylor kept saying "C'mon boys! Put your arms around me! We need to take a picture! Put your arms around me!" It cracked me up!

We ate our usual Blueberry French Toast Casserole (courtesy of my mom's recipe box) that I make every Christmas morning, and added some lemon poppyseed bread from Joe's Aunt Genie.

Presents....Maddox got a baseball nightlight, Joey got a Seahawks blanket, the kids all got a Sports Find It game to play together, each kid got a new book and a night time reading clip light, and each kid got a Pottery Barn sleeping bag (that exceeded all expectations, by the way!).  But, the "big gift" was an XBox One....we actually didn't pull it out until they were all done with their presents. Joey goes "Mom, um, this was a really nice Christmas. But, is that all of our gifts?" and Maddox goes "Hmmm, so that's it, huh?" They were trying to be so polite but I think a blanket, nightlight and sleeping bag were a little light in their heads. So, we pulled out the big dawg- and Joey literally started crying! And, Maddox was screaming and Saylor joined them in the excitment! But- her big gifts were Disney Princesses, Frozen headphones, and a little dog that walks. We did get her one XBox One game in hopes that maybe she would play a little someday.... : )

Joe and I also surprised each other with a few things. I got new Nikes, new slippers and perfume. Joe got a speed and agility ladder, white crewneck shirts, a winter coat and I got the whole family the Star Wars DVD set!

It was a great Christmas. It was kind of weird...it's the only Christmas (that I can recall) that I wasn't "home" on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It just didn't work out this year that we could do it....but it won't be that way every year. And, maybe mom and dad can come here another year if it happens again.

Another good thing about this Christmas....it was lightly snowing. I loved watching it.

And, the photo I always take....the mess that Christmas leaves us. It's a beautiful mess, and every year, I say a prayer when I look at that mess, that God has blessed us with another year here together, and that we have everything we need (and so much more). We are so grateful for His abundance, and this photo always reminds me of that.

Santa Through The Years

I can't forget my annual Santa post....this is our 10th year of photos, and my boys are definitely tired of this whole song and dance at this point, but if they want gifts, they will suffer through it.