Another Christmas has come and gone. I still can't get over how fast the years pass now. Regardless, this Christmas was great. The addition of children to our family make the holidays even more magical and a little more chaotic too! Quickly, traditions are being set, in hopes of making wonderful memories for my kids in the future.
Christmas Eve is always a favorite. We gather at my mom's house with my brother and his wife. The dining room table is decked out with the necessary tools for our meal...a crab feed!! YUMMY!! In the afternoon, my parents head out to the asian market for fresh live crabs. My dad cleans them all (alive!) and they end up in the biggest pot you can imagine. I seriously think it takes at least a half an hour for that pot to come to a full boil. I make twice baked potatoes and my mom also provides some salad and dessert. We dig into to our delectable meal and savor every last bite. Needless to say there are not much leftovers.
After dinner we dive into present opening. Of course this year, Jimmy and Paige could barely contain themselves throughout dinner..."is it time to open presents yet??!!" Way back when I was a kid, my parents, brother and I began opening our presents together on Christmas Eve. We enjoyed an intimate setting where we could really enjoy giving and receiving our gifts to each other, without all the extra people and noise around. I am happy to be continuing this tradition and hopefully passing it on.
With a van load (no joke) of gifts, we headed home from my mom's. All 3 kids were in pajamas already, so being that it was almost 10pm, we got our plate of cookies ready for Santa. Paige insisted that Santa wanted chocolate milk this year, so that is what he got.
With everything in place, including the carrots and celery for the reindeer, the kids headed off to bed. They were asleep in 5 minutes. We stayed up until 11:30 getting ready for the next morning...cleaning up the kitchen, putting away dishes, etc. Fortunately Santa put all his toys together the night before, so he was ready to go. He arrived just before we tucked ourselves in!
Because everyone went to bed so late on Christmas Eve, no one woke up until 7am. YEAH!! Little Jimmy Bug came walking down the hall and climbed into bed with us. Alyssa started chattering shortly after. We were able to contain Jimmy to our room for about 20 minutes, then we had to go wake up Paige, because Jimmy wanted breakfast. Poor girl, she was so tired and waking her up proved to be a bad idea later in the day. What a basket case! Ugh. Anyway, the mention of Santa and she sleepily rose from her bed.
Just to see the looks on their faces when they enter the living room. It is like magic! Paige was delighted to see her Princess bike and Jimmy got his Lightning McQueen scooter. Buzz Lightyear and Jessie were surprise gifts from Santa and quickly became the favorites. Alyssa had no clue what was going on, but relished in the excitement...as well as all the wrapping paper.
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| Tom & I getting ready to enjoy our crab. |
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| Yummy! |
After dinner we dive into present opening. Of course this year, Jimmy and Paige could barely contain themselves throughout dinner..."is it time to open presents yet??!!" Way back when I was a kid, my parents, brother and I began opening our presents together on Christmas Eve. We enjoyed an intimate setting where we could really enjoy giving and receiving our gifts to each other, without all the extra people and noise around. I am happy to be continuing this tradition and hopefully passing it on.
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| Paige could barely contain her excitement to open presents! |
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| This was Alyssa's first Christmas and present opening experience. |
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| Jimmy's favorite present of the evening. The jacket lights up! |
Because everyone went to bed so late on Christmas Eve, no one woke up until 7am. YEAH!! Little Jimmy Bug came walking down the hall and climbed into bed with us. Alyssa started chattering shortly after. We were able to contain Jimmy to our room for about 20 minutes, then we had to go wake up Paige, because Jimmy wanted breakfast. Poor girl, she was so tired and waking her up proved to be a bad idea later in the day. What a basket case! Ugh. Anyway, the mention of Santa and she sleepily rose from her bed.
Just to see the looks on their faces when they enter the living room. It is like magic! Paige was delighted to see her Princess bike and Jimmy got his Lightning McQueen scooter. Buzz Lightyear and Jessie were surprise gifts from Santa and quickly became the favorites. Alyssa had no clue what was going on, but relished in the excitement...as well as all the wrapping paper.
As the dust settled from the excitement of Santa, we took a break to have a little breakfast. Afterward, we dove into the presents that we all bought each other. Then around 11am, Doug's sister and her family came over for brunch. Again, this is another tradition that is quickly becoming set. We have crab quiche, broccoli & cheese quiche, cinnamon rolls, bacon, sausage crepes and some fruit. Easy to prepare, casual and relaxing. We continue on to open more gifts...
After brunch, Susan and her family head down to Atherton to a Christmas dinner with some of Jonathan's family. We headed across the street to enjoy some Christmas cheer with our good friends and neighbors. Afterward, we came home and got dressed to go back over to Grandma's for Christmas dinner. This time Tom and Melissa were missing as they went up to Carson City to spend Christmas Day with Melissa's family.
It was a great Christmas and we enjoyed every moment of it. As the years seem to pass more quickly and the kids grow up, I truly believe in taking the time to savor every moment. The only thing missing this year were Doug's parents. They have become part of our Christmas traditions for the past 3 years, but this year they could not make it.
I will look forward to next year's holiday season in hopes it will be just as magical and full of joy as it was this year!
Now, on to two birthday's and New Year's...
After brunch, Susan and her family head down to Atherton to a Christmas dinner with some of Jonathan's family. We headed across the street to enjoy some Christmas cheer with our good friends and neighbors. Afterward, we came home and got dressed to go back over to Grandma's for Christmas dinner. This time Tom and Melissa were missing as they went up to Carson City to spend Christmas Day with Melissa's family.
It was a great Christmas and we enjoyed every moment of it. As the years seem to pass more quickly and the kids grow up, I truly believe in taking the time to savor every moment. The only thing missing this year were Doug's parents. They have become part of our Christmas traditions for the past 3 years, but this year they could not make it.
I will look forward to next year's holiday season in hopes it will be just as magical and full of joy as it was this year!
Now, on to two birthday's and New Year's...
Keep writing these monthly reports. In 20 years or so you will find the urge to edit and compile them into a book.
ReplyDeleteKeep up eith them. Love you!