Christmas is over and I’m sad. Soon I’ll have to pack away the decorations and our house, which looks so cozy with lights and holly in every corner, will look empty. And I will have to deal with two kids who, “WANT CHRISTMAS AGAIN WHY IS IT OVERRRRR.”
We’ve had a really great week off. Mike took the kids out for a special Daddy breakfast on Monday morning.
On Tuesday, it was our turn to host our annual Friend Christmas. The last time it was at our house, these three were either just born or still in utero.
The rest of these kids haven’t stopped growing, either:
Of course, we adults keep getting younger:
On Christmas Eve, we celebrated at my sister-in-law’s house. The girls immediately ran off to play, but James just wanted to hang out with his boy cousins. They are very patient with him, and even let him take a turn on their big-kid games:
Later that night, A Christmas Miracle – Mike and I were asleep before midnight! In fact, at 11 pm, we sat out by the tree and admired our work.
This year, Annabel and James had a Christmas First. Every past Christmas morning, my family has arrived early, before the kids woke up. But this year, Annabel woke up at 5:45 and James was up at 7, long before our morning guests arrived. To be fair, James was totally confused about why he was awake, but not Annabel:
After everyone arrived, we distributed presents and got to opening. James was very slow and methodical, preferring to remove every bit of paper from each present before he moved on to the next one – and he usually wanted to immediately start playing with whatever he’d just opened.
Annabel still has the best reactions to every gift she receives:
Including this gem of a gift from my cousins Leah and Ted:
We gave both kids scooters as their big gifts. Annabel has been asking for a scooter for a couple years now so she was (unsurprisingly) thrilled:
James was also excited, although I think at first he thought he was unwrapping an actual person. He kept pointing to the little boy on the box:
Yay, a friend!
Now I just have to find a helmet for James, because the “ages 5 – 8” helmet I got him was too small. Let’s all take a moment to be thankful he was a c-section.
The rest of the day was dedicated to playing with toys and spending time with family.
Definitely one of our best Christmases ever.
Mike is back to work today, but Annabel still has another week off of school. So, not quite back to normal…I think that means I don’t have to take down the Christmas decorations just yet.
Glenda says:
Love that pic of Mike w/ the kids! and of course your family pic to include Rigby! How is she doing with her meds? I don’t mind putting the decorations up… I can’t get into taking them down.
Heather says:
She’s doing SO well taking them. I usually give them with a dollop of peanut butter, so she always comes running when she sees me pull the peanut butter container out of the cupboard. She has a blood test on Saturday and we’ll see how well the medicine is working. She doesn’t seem too bothered by the meds. She’ll occasionally be a little slow the day after receiving her chemo pill, but she mostly seems totally unaffected!
Glenda says:
That’s awesome news!!!! Praying for good test results on Saturday!!!
Nellie says:
You capture your family’s Christmas so beautifully. I especially loved the one of James (sleeping on your cousin’s lap?) – those lips and sweet slumber – absolutely precious!!!
And by the way, I’d be TERRIFIED of that unicorn head running around my house – I’m a wimp like that!
Lyzzette says:
You can follow our Latin tradition!! We don’t take the tree or decorations down til Jan 6, three kings Day!! And that weekend it finally comes down:( but at least we get it a little longer!!!
Diana says:
Glad to see the comment with the update about Rigby!
Also, where did you find such adorable personalized stockings? I’ve been hunting for awhile and haven’t found a style I like, but I LOVE yours!
Heather says:
They are from Pottery Barn! They offer different ones every year, but in the same general style.
Diana says:
Ahhh.. that explains it. I did look there, but the styles offered this year don’t hold a candle to yours! The search continues for another year…
Megan says:
I love James’ hair! Do you put any product in it?
Heather says:
Yes! I usually put in some kind of styling gel or cream. Whatever is on sale at Target! Currently, I’ve been putting in Garnier Fructis Style Surfer Hair http://amzn.to/1mMGHKo.
Jordan says:
looks like a lovely Christmas! I’m sad it’s over, too.
I mistook baby Cait for Molly in that picture with the 3 little ones- they could be twins!
Now, question. DID YOU MAKE THAT MERMAID BLANKET?!?! Cause if so, a tutorial is needed like yesterday. (I want one!!). If you bought it, where did you find it?!?!
The unicorn head is perfect.
Happy new year, friends!
Heather says:
I did not! My friend Jenny makes them, so I bought one from her. She makes adult sizes for $35! If you want her info, let me know and I’ll hook you up!
Jordan says:
when I have a decent paycheck I’ll holler at you! I love it. My best friend crochets but I think it’d be a hard undertaking for a beginner!
Kristen E says:
Girl, my daughter (whose birthday is May 29 – close to Jams’!) has a gigaaaantic head. I’ve had good luck on Amazon with finding hats to fit that noodle, so try looking there! And I take comfort in knowing that her larger-than-life noggin protects her from most falls
Kristen E says:
Er, that would be “James,” not Jams. Unless you call him Jams, in which case I stand by my original statement.