Week in Review ~ 12/28

I covered most of our week {especially the parts of the week that involved getting dressed} in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day posts, but there are still a few things to remember from Christmas week.

Ned took the kids to church Sunday morning and I stayed home.  My cold had gone into my sinuses and I just wasn't feeling good, especially in the mornings when I was all stopped up.  I did have to get out that afternoon to go to the store for some things Ned wasn't able to get the night before.  Avery and I did her gingerbread house that night and had a fun time.  This was my first, and surprisingly it stayed together with no real work.  I do think we might spring for a Candy Cottage though.

The kids and I were home Monday and it was rainy.  I did a little baking and cooking to get started on Christmas.  That night Ned's brother Rob and his girlfriend Megan came to town to celebrate Christmas since Megan was working the next two days.  We exchanged gifts and Mimi and Vincent's and then went to Cracker Barrel.  We were a little late eating and I was worried, but Sam did pretty well.

Tuesday was Christmas Eve.

Wednesday was Christmas Day.

The kids and I spent Thursday and Friday at home, and things pretty much looked like the picture above.  We were in comfy clothes, and for every one toy I picked up, 3 more blew out from somewhere.  Ned was off on Thursday and did some hunting, and he went back to work on Friday.  The Millers came for pizza Friday night and we had a fun time as usual.  Avery and Camden played together wonderfully and Sam tried to include himself.  Caleb helped Ned take the train table to the playroom before they left, and poor Sam cried and cried, thinking they were taking it away.  Ned went to bed before I did since he was getting up early for a hunting trip the next day.  I stayed up too late watching TV then couldn't go to sleep when I got in bed.  I'm either fast asleep on the couch at 9 p.m. or wide away at midnight.

Ned got up at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning to go to Surry, VA for a duck hunt he won.  He took two guys and a dog with him, and I was not happy with the time of day that they were hunting.  The kids and I laid around for awhile that morning then made our way to Walmart for groceries.  Ned got home while they were resting and took a nap himself.  Once he got up, we went to the Mexican restaurant for dinner, wished Ned's dad a happy birthday on the way home, and looked at a few Christmas lights.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning arrived (early) and the excitement level was high for everyone.  We left the kids in bed until almost 7 a.m., knowing that Avery wouldn't come out of her room for fear of running into Santa.  I snapped a few pictures of Santa's deliveries before the madness began.

Once we came downstairs, the fun began.

In addition to what Santa brought, the kids also got Toy Story shirts from us.  Sam got a Toy Story DVD and Avery got a LeapPad game.  Sam and Avery gave each other Woody dolls.  They were our first duplicate toys, but we knew that would prevent a lot of tears and yelling.

We got no pictures of Ned and I opening presents.  He surprised me with Hunter rain boots and other items I had on my list.  I finally pulled off a surprise for Ned with an iPad mini that he had been mentioning he wanted.  I made sure I continued to tell him throughout the season that he didn't need it so that he would have no clue.

After breakfast and more playing, Ned's parents came over to see what Santa brought and open presents.  Sam and Avery each got Buzz dolls from them, so we have quite the gang with the Woody dolls and the Jessie and Bullseye that Rob and Megan had given them earlier in the week.  Avery also got the Madame Alexander Dorothy doll.

My parents came after Mimi and Vincent left and had some breakfast and looked at all the toys.  They left and we had lunch and naps then got ready for both sets of grandparents to come for dinner.  Dinner was easy and delicious with pork loins, broccoli casserole from my mom, dressing from Mimi, sweet potato casserole, congealed salad, and deviled eggs.  Coca Cola cake served as dessert and birthday cake for Jesus.  We had a nice low-key evening and everyone went home pretty early.  We got our final gift that night when Rob texted pictures of him proposing to Megan.  Since she said yes, Ned and I gained a sister and the kids gained an aunt.  We missed them since Megan was working but they were obviously having a great Christmas as well.

It was a wonderful, wonderful holiday season, much more calm and relaxed than last year.  We made some changes to our traditions, and while that's usually hard for me, it worked out so well for us to be home all day Christmas Day.  My only complaint is that it all went by much too quickly.

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas, starting with Christmas Eve.  There was lots of cooking going on that morning and lots of Toy Story to keep the kids occupied.  After naps we got ready to go to my hometown church for Christmas Eve Service.

We got to church early to get a seat, so after 40 minutes Sam was much too busy for church, but we were only 10 minutes into the service.  He was peeking over and under pews, laying on the floor, and hopping over the cord to the Chrismon tree.  To preserve my sanity and the experience of those around us, I had Ned take him out.  The service was kind of long and went past 6 p.m.  Then you talk to people you haven't seen in forever, so it was late when we scooted out of there to get dinner ready at my parents'.  They were even later getting out because so many people wanted to speak to my mom.  We occupied ourselves with some pictures while we waited.

After dinner it was time for presents.  Avery was excited to receive new clothes and accessories for Bitty, and both were thrilled with the Little People Buzz and Woody sets that Sam got.

It was after bedtimes before we even left and almost 8:30 by the time we got everyone into bed.  Ned and I sat for a little bit watching It's a Wondeful Life to make sure Avery was asleep.  Then we got busy.  He had assembled the train table earlier, but we still had pieces to assemble and had to get everything on the table.  Ned zipped right through while I used a picture from a friend who had already done it.  Santa finally got everything done by 10:45 but we continued to watch the end of the movie and then some of The Family Stone before heading to bed.

Home for the Holidays

I'm way late for any holiday tour link-up and am quite sure that I wouldn't be fancy enough for those anyway, but I've been snapping some pictures to remember how we got our home ready this holiday season.

After 2 Christmases I still can't find the perfect items for my mantle, our inside stair railings are bare, and a strand of lights has gone off in our living room tree.  But we love our cozy home at Christmas and have had a wonderful holiday season.  Merry Christmas!