Christmas Eve was chill time. This was our first Santa-free Christmas, and we really did spend the season enjoying all things winter/Christmas/Jesus this year. I really enjoyed it. A trip to Main St. in St. Charles, holiday music performances, movies, wonderful church services.... it was a really nice season!
I think a movie on Christmas Eve might turn into a fun tradition. It wasn't crowded, and we all enjoyed Mary Poppins Returns. We hadn't been to a movie in awhile, and I could not believe the prices of concessions. I mean, I know it's bad, but it's gotten REALLY bad..... my bottled water was almost $5, and the kids' small drinks were over $5. Scott's large drink was $6.75. I mean, that's just WRONG!! We snuck in snacks, but I guess next time I'll bring a bigger bag and we'll sneak in drinks as well! :)
This was our first Christmas Eve at the new church we've been attending for several months. It was enjoyed by all- especially the real fire for Silent Night. None of those silly light up candles- these were real and made it SO pretty at the end of the service!
I love this picture. I'm not sure what was being said, but I love the look on their faces. This was right before I presented them with their traditional Christmas Eve gift- always pajamas- until they beg me to stop doing it!
They were convinced they were EXACTLY alike....until they saw the collars. :) It was quite the experience finding these... as I waited until the very last minute to buy them. NEVER AGAIN- I will shop in October like a good girl from now on.
But oh my, they looked adorable, as usual!
We almost said goodbye to this tradition, but at the last minute, the kids said they still wanted to hear it, so Dad read.
I promised I wouldn't take pictures, but I snuck this one (and got the stink eye from Allison).
We started a new "thing" this year, and I think we'll continue it next year. We had the kids buy us gifts for our stockings. I gave them money and a list of suggestions, and then I let them loose in Target and Barnes and Noble. I got a cute organizer, essential oils, a hat, and a Christmas decoration. I loved it all! Scott got a t-shirt, socks, a desk golf game, and the cutest little working mini- record player!
Trying to figure out the record player. He finally did, and it was the cutest thing ever!!!
Of course we had White Christmas on in the background. LOVE that movie!
One of my favorite gifts to give this year went to both kids. They were tiny books that talked about all the awesome things about each kid. There were 50 statements- Scott filled out the odds on one kid and the evens on the other- and I did the opposite. Aaron is giving me a look because one of the things I wrote was that his big head should be studied by science. :)
I think Allison liked hers, but she complained that many of the responses weren't "correct".
Every year Aaron asks for the latest Year in Sports, so we oblige.
It was a vintage year for Scott. He got several t-shirts of oldie but goody bands.
Allison got Aaron a fun K-nex game, and later that day they built a roller coaster together. SO FUN! Oh, and don't you love how their pajamas totally match the couch and pillows???
Making our kids happy makes us happy!
I asked the kids what special thing they wanted for Christmas breakfast. Aaron wanted a sausage egg and cheese biscuit (frozen, from the grocery store- ha!), but Allison wanted me to make a quiche. I'd never made one before, but it was super simple- bacon, cheese, and peppers inside. She loved it!!
Caption this! Ha!
Bullet journals are all the rage! Allison got one from Aaron and I got one from Allison.
I wish I could bottle this moment. Long story short, Scott presented Aaron with an "experience" gift- a trip to KC to see a Chiefs game this weekend. He put the paper about it inside a file folder. Aaron opened the gift and put it down, thinking all it was was a file for him to put papers in. After realizing he hadn't seen the paper inside yet, we made him look at it again. The 2nd time, he saw the paper and realized there was more to the gift than just a file folder. It was hysterical!!
His smile was priceless. He then saw that it said "Aaron and a guest". Scott said, "You can take whoever you want- me, mom, or Allison." We all laughed, knowing he'd want to go with Scott. Then, he looks up and says, "Can I take Papaw?" OMG, we laughed SO hard!!!! Scott had worked VERY hard to make this gift happen, and of course he couldn't wait to go to the game- then Aaron asks that!! It was hysterical!!! Rest assured, Aaron WILL be bringing HIS dad, not MY dad, to the game!
Aaron got a fun game called Abalone, and he and Allison enjoyed playing it. He taught me the next day, and I loved it!! It's a great game of strategy!
Later in the day, the kids put together the cool roller coaster! It turned out great!
I'd prefer a white Christmas, but it was not to be. Instead, I enjoyed a beautiful 50 degree day and took a very long walk with Zoey.
Her presence scared the geese across the street, and I got this shot of them flying away. Pretty, right?
I thought it would be fun to give myself a gift.... I ordered one of those fabfitfun boxes, and it was SO much fun to open. I felt like a celebrity! :)
I got lots of lovely gifts from everyone... candlesticks and books from Aaron, and perfume and a bullet journal from Allison. And from Scott.... well, he went overboard AGAIN. We gave each other the present of a dresser for our room- which is arriving any minute now. We've never had a REAL dresser- ever- in 20 years of marriage! I can't wait! Pictures to come soon! He got me lots of other nice things, but one of them that I'm REALLY looking forward to are tickets to a Garth Brooks concert- coming in March. That's something I've always wanted but never would have expected. I can't wait! I hope your Christmas was a merry one and that 2019 will be a fantastic year to remember!
