The Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve is probably right up there on the top of my lists of favorite days (I have quite a list). Mainly, because it's my mom's birthday, and the memories I hold of this day are just so darn happy! And, now that we have children, Tom and I feel just as giddy and anxious as the little cherubs this day and night before Christmas.  

Our day started out with Ellie helping me make Mimi's birthday cake. Connor wants nothing to do with working in the kitchen, but Ellie loves it! Of course, though, he likes it enough to meander his way over when it's time to lick batter or frosting of the beater. Of course I snuck some as well. Nothing beats homemade frosting!

Later in the day, it was time to don our best Christmas Eve garb and head on out the door to Mimi and Papa's house to celebrate Christmas Eve and Mimi's birthday. 

After a yummy dinner, it was time to be silly and goofy. Ellie learned what it means to "photobomb." 

  Singing "happy birthday" to Mimi and helping her blow out her candles. 

fancy Christmas Eve dinner date...

Time to change into Christmas PJ's!

 After Mimi opened her presents, the cake was devoured, and the kids opened and put on their pj's, it was time for the kids to open one present each. This time, it was from Papa. They have a running joke together that all he is going to buy them when he takes them out is underwear. So, that's what they got! They were laughing and understood it was a joke, and totally loved it. Caleb even got new diapers! haha

Getting cozy with Mimi for the traditional read-aloud of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." 

That one gets me emotional. So, here are some silly afters: 

After a couple of hours of putting the kids to bed, and organizing presents, it was time for Tom and I to relax and have gratitude for all that was before us. The image beneath the beautiful Christmas tree was something to admire and be completely grateful for. 

 The children were snug as a bug in their beds, maybe dreaming about sugarplums, but more likely they were dreaming of Santa eating cookies and the presents that he would bring. 

 

The Days Before Christmas (Part ll)

It's a December tradition to make and decorate sugar cookies. The kids and I look forward to it every year! I first started doing this when Connor was around 2. My! How messy he and his friends could get! It's a little bit cleaner now that they are a bit older... and more fun too! 

Cleaning before the mess started...

Ellie and her lil friends

Our neighbors who are becoming quite the little pack with Connor and Ellie

 Connor's buddy, Zippy...

These memories are so sweet (literally). ba-da-bum-ching!

The Days Before Christmas (Part 1)

Today is always one of my favorite days. Every year I take the kids into the mall near where Tom works. He meets us there, and we see Santa, have lunch as a family, and pick out our Christmas PJs. This year I decided to put a movie on in the van as an extra special treat. As soon as they saw that it was How the Grinch Stole Christmas, their cute little faces lit up. This brought so much joy that it made me wish Christmas was tomorrow.  Such a perfect little day...