Pre-Christmas Snow:
For the first time that I can ever recall, we got a pre-Christmas snow right here in Georgia. It caused us to cancel all plans for the weekend and sent our holiday spirits soaring. It was absolutely gorgeous and I couldn't get enough of the view of the Christmas lights under the blanket of white. The kids had a wonderful time playing in it the next morning, but didn't last long without waterproof gear and gloves.
Other pre-Christmas highlights:
Our church partnered with Path Project (the 2017 Timber Trek beneficiary) to put on a Christmas party at a local mobile home community. Our small group went to serve, and the kiddos of the group did a fantastic job taking lead on the craft table!
Packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child
Packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child
Our first annual holiday movie marathon and family room camp out
Visit with Santa 2017
Visit with Santa 2017
The kids' letters to Santa 2017
Audrey's and Luke's class parties. Audrey's was a storybook theme with a book at each station and an activity/craft to go along with it. Luke's was a gingerbread man theme. Both of them were a big success and the kids had so much fun.
And then came more celebrating! Six celebrations in six consecutive days. We were tired by the time it was all said and done, but it was a lot of fun and thank the Lord we were all healthy and well!
Christmas Celebration #1: Our friends the Taylors at our house
We had the Taylors over for lunch and exchanged gifts. The kids had a blast like they always do and the adults sat around and caught up about everything under the sun. They left all too soon and we said what we always say..."I wish they lived closer and we got to do that more often."
Christmas Celebration #2: David's mom's side of the family at his aunt's house
The biggest highlight of this celebration was getting to meet two week old Baby Carter, David's cousin's newest addition. The kids were absolutely enamored. I was too, even after he projectile pooped on David's aunt and I caught some stray friendly fire. We had a great time eating, laughing, and cooing over Carter.
Christmas Celebration #3: David's parents at their house
After church on Christmas Eve morning, we went to David's parents' house and celebrated Christmas with them. The kids had a blast hunting for the Christmas pickle in the tree, opening their new air hockey table, and working on football plays in Luke's new GT football uniform. Audrey got a new camera and loved posing everyone with their gifts. They also loved giving their grandparents these shirts. After lunch, a round of air hockey, and an indoor snowball fight, we headed home to get ready for Santa.
Christmas Celebration #4: Us at our house
We spent most of the day lazily opening gifts and sorting through the loot that Santa left. In my never-ending quest to pull together a special Christmas gluten-free breakfast, I made crepes. Everyone loved them...except Audrey wasn't too keen. The kids got such a kick out giving each other the gifts they'd chosen, which was very cool to watch. Luke also put his new bug vacuum to work right away and found three specimen to suck up and show us. (We're still looking for the gnat.) David loved his Boston puzzle and new puzzle mat and everyone in the family somehow ended up with new slippers this year. We played all the new games Santa brought - Battleship, Sorry, and Life - and worked on Audrey's new lightbox and Luke's new Train My Dino.
In the early evening, my brother and niece came over and we ate a nice dinner in the dining room and let the kids visit and play until bedtime. It was a fantastic Christmas Day full of sweet memories.
Christmas Celebration #5: My mom and brothers at our house
The next morning my mom, brother, sister-in-law, and nephews joined David, the kids, and me along with my other brother and niece at our house to continue celebrating. We tried to keep the food simple and just had hot cheese dip, fruit, chips, a Chick-fil-A nugget tray, and Christmas cookies (I also attempted crockpot hot chocolate that was WAY too rich and no one liked...) We wanted to focus on the time together outside of the kitchen. The kids did great patiently taking turns opening their gifts. One of my favorite parts was watching everyone unwrap the custom frame I had made for them with a favorite quote of my late grandfather's:
We sent my mom and middle brother and his family on their way and let the other cousins play outside in the warm sunshine before heating up a feast of leftovers and watching the Trolls Holiday Special.
Christmas Celebration #6: My dad and stepmom at their house
Our sixth and final celebration was at my dad and stepmom's house with my brothers and their families again. We had a delicious brunch, took pictures, and let the kids check out my dad's Polar Express train set before diving into the presents. Everyone spoiled their dog Sophie and Audrey and Luke jammed out with Grandpa to "Little St. Nick"...a shared favorite. We hit the road in the early afternoon, but not before the kids got a lesson on the right way to crack walnuts by a real wood fire.
It was a wonderful December full of so many awesome events, parties, and traditions continued. Even after all the Christmas celebrating, the partying continued with my birthday and New Year's Eve.
I celebrated my birthday with a good run and a Chick-fil-A biscuit. Later we did some shopping and ate dinner at Provino's at about 4:45pm, as one does when one reaches a certain age. It was a wild and crazy night, for sure.
The next day, we closed out the year with our friends the Kirkleys as we rang in 2018 with London at 7pm and were in bed by 9pm. Early to bed and early to rise, as they say...
Here's to another happy and healthy December in the books.
Many wishes for a wonderful 2018!
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