This Christmas was totally great and I can't complain a bit, except to say I've been completely exhausted since the Christmas festivities (a.k.a chaos) began in early December. But being the trooper that I am (insert sarcastic laugh now) I plowed through and carried on (ha-ha!).
We began the festivities with presents for the kiddo's from Grandma Linda and Grandpa Virgil. So fun and the kids have loved their gifts. The pink hippo tent is a HUGE hit they love it (I know it looks like a pig but it is a hippo, it says so on the packaging). And I love it cuz it folds up flat in about 2.5 seconds, and fits perfectly behind the couch (I wish all toys could do this).
We had a great Christmas Day, with a morning filled with gifts from Santa (bikes, books, Strawberry Shortcake doll, Minnie Mouse dress up doll, guns and ammo, Spiderman web blaster, Cars racetrack...I think Santa went a little overboard this year, I'm thinking Santa needs to rein it in a little next year). I got a new camera which I love and Alex got a chainsaw, which I guess he loves too...
And then an afternoon flight to Utah and a delicious Turkey dinner with all the fixin's...
And the next morning we had Christmas at Grammie's house (and once again Santa went a little tiny bit overboard--OK A LOT overboard). It's nice that my kids are so loved and they've sure enjoyed all their gifts!
Check out Abby's baby doll crib, my Mom sewed a mini blanket and bumper to match what is in Abby's room there at Grammie's house, how cute is that?
The easel was a great gift for Ethan, every day he would write how many minutes we all had or had taken away for recess. Apparently this is a big deal for him at school. Somehow I always had 10 minutes and everyone else had 5, I'm not totally sure if that's good or bad???
Looks like Santa forgot Alex but he did get lots of stuff...
"Santa loves me!"
And for more "calories and chaos" (to quote my Aunt Pat)-I've decided that's our family motto now, "Calories and Chaos-that's how we roll!" We had a fun party with my Uncle Mike and Aunt Pat and all their kids and grandkids, there's never a dull moment and always good food to be had when with the "Merry Mac's" crew.
My Mom made the girls nightgown's and nightgown's for their dolly's too. Cute huh? My mom is amazing, we were teasing her that she is a sewing "machine"-hahaha!
And bought the boys some Cars PJ's
Then we had a super cute and fun gingerbread party that the Grandma's put on for their grandkids (My mom, her cousin Linda, and my Aunt Pat). They sewed tirelessly making everyone aprons and tablecloths and the gingerbread candy cane holder ornaments and just making sure all the details were just right. Everything turned out SO adorable and just picture perfect.
One of the kids tables
The adults table
Zoe, Kaitlyn, Abby and Rachel
Then there was the whole thing with me trying to help Abby make her gingerbread house. What a disaster! My foundation needed repair, my roof caved in, then the walls crumbled. I was so frustrated, I just got up and walked away from it, luckily cousin Dave came to the rescue and fixed it for me! I'm certain I had more fun decorating it then Abby did, and maybe that's because I didn't really let her decorate it-I'm a terrible mother. But she didn't seem to mind much and just sort of nibbled on all the candy while I tried to hurry and put it on the house before she ate it all.
I think you can tell on my face, I was totally frustrated with the whole construction phase of the process...
The final product!
Alex and Ethan had much better success at building their ski lodge, sound construction usually pays off in the long run. I'm pretty sure Ethan actually got to help decorate his house.
The final Product!
We celebrated New Year's with a minor bang, I'm pretty sure everyone was in their PJ's by 8 maybe 9PM and in bed by 12:05, but rest assured in keeping with our new family motto the caloric intake was HUGE. The chaos not as much.
All bundled up and ready to do fireworks to ring in the New Year!
We celebrated Abby's birthday twice, yes, I said twice. And she loved every minute of it. She's been looking forward to her birthday party at Grammie's since August when Ethan celebrated his birthday at Grammie's! Every day in December she asked me "Is it my birfday today?" Her birthday is not until Jan. 27th and I don't think she even knows that or cares, she got her party with Grammie, she's good. And she got to celebrate her birthday with her "fwiends" (my cousins girls) who also have January birthdays.
Toasting the girls for their birthdays.
Darn good thing this stuff is alcohol free or else we'd have quite the lush on our hands, she downed 3 glasses of this stuff and probably would've had more, but we cut her off.
As every diva knows two tu-tu's are a must on your birthday!
And a crown and jewels are a must for eating your birthday cupcake.
And one last birthday hoorah with Pa-Pa before heading back to H-town.
Overall we had fun just being with family, some more highlights include: visiting Alex's Aunt Helen and Emily and Elizabeth, dancing to Just Dance 3, going to Cabela's with Pa-Pa, and going through genealogy papers my Dad had, Alex and I went (with some of the "Merry Mac's") to see Sherlock Holmes, post Christmas shopping with Grammie, eating Cafe Rio (thanks Kimi), the Pie Pizzeria and Brick Oven and having a yummy breakfast at my cute cousin Melanie's who makes the most delicious waffles ever and this year she had homemade vanilla syrup to go with! YUMMO! How is it that I lost 2 lbs. with all this feasting going on? It's a Christmas miracle! And we especially enjoyed the unusually warm temps and no snow!
The kids had fun playing kickball outside...
We had so much fun and I'm exhausted, and truth be told I didn't even do that much! My poor mom MUST be way more exhausted than me! Boy! I sure am glad Christmas isn't for another 11 months!!! I'm going to need all 11 months to recover!
