Christmas, Come and Gone

I can't believe tomorrow is January 1, 2024! The older I get, the faster time goes. I am grateful to have had a slow and peaceful December. We didn't do a whole lot because we had some sickness to start the month and after that, we decided to settle in and hibernate away from people. Last year we had covid and it ruined our Christmas, so this year we decided to be as healthy as possible. It was nice to spend so much time together as a family and really slow down for the season. Each day we completed our advent activities, like we always do, and we tried to fill in as many Christmas activities as possible.

Each day in December, the kids come downstairs and open the little advent box for the day that tells them our activity for the day. There is also a coordinating book and advent reading we get to do together before the day gets going. We repeated a lot of the same activities as years past like cookie decorating and making Christmas chains; but, we also started some new traditions like a luminary walk at the winery and making salt dough ornaments.

And then, all of a sudden it was Christmas Eve! We spent the day watching a Christmas movie and then went to Mimi and Bupa's Bloomington house for our Christmas celebration with them. We had prime rib, delicious gingerbread pie, and a fun night of opening presents! It was such a sweet night. Then we came home, set out cookies for Santa, and quickly went to sleep ;)

Christmas morning as a parent is just so much fun. I made sure to get up extra early to make a big breakfast for everyone, but the excitement of the presents meant nobody wanted to eat said breakfast. The kids loved everything, but Isla especially loved her Paw Patrol Skye stuffed dog and Ewan loved his train tent and garbage truck.

From there, we went to Nana and Pop Pop's for Christmas Day. We had a yummy lunch and presents with one another. It was fun having all the kids together!