Day 361

2 days after Christmas we drove to Melbourne, Florida for the night. It was a long 11 hour drive. Traffic on I-95 through South Carolina was almost unbearable. 

It was nice to wake up to a warm, ocean breeze though. 

Day 360

More from Christmas Day...

The calm before the storm:

Rosey and Franklin enjoyed some new treats and a new bed!

We decided to just have some appetizers this year instead of a full meal.  I set the table like I did for the Nutcracker though.

We had a great time celebrating with Carson, Katie and MiMi.  We sure did miss Papa Neal.

I completely forgot to take a picture with MiMi and Katie.  I meant to do that.  I wanted a more formal photo of the kids, but this is all I could manage to get between Jackson and Carson.

We had such a blessed day.  We all got more than we deserve.  We are very thankful and were so happy to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

I am especially thankful this year for our sweet children and our health. 

DAY 359

M E R R Y    C H R I S T M A S!!!

{morning}

Day 358

M E R R Y    C H R I S T M A S    E V E!

Our extremely full and blessed day started at MiMi's house celebrating Christmas with my grandparents!



Then we went to JC's parents' house and celebrated with his family.  We had a delicious meal and of course opened presents!





Next we attended our church's Christmas Eve Candlelight Service where Brendan and Jackson served as ushers.









Then we came home and ate dinner and made Reindeer food.  After sprinkling the Reindeer food, setting out Santa's cookies and milk and magic key, and finally, Santa Mouse's cheese, JC read The Night Before Christmas and Santa Mouse!

Of course, JC's all-time favorite Christmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life was on the tv!

Another favorite tradition is that the kids get to open one present each on Christmas Eve night before they go to bed.



This year they each got a cross with a special verse!  Brendan's is of course, the baseball home plate.  Jackson's is the soccer cross, and Emma's is a porcelain cross with her first and middle name hand-painted.



Emma's verse is Numbers 6:24; Jackson's verse is Psalm 96:12; and Brendan's verse is Phillipians 4:13.

Jackson has been sick this Christmas with a nasty cold.  He actually started the going to bed process voluntarily,  poor thing.

Finally, all the kids were asleep, and Santa was able to work! :)

Day 357

More Elf Shenanigans:

Day 356

More from the Christmas ornament making...

Day 355

On Sunday, we went to church, and then I wrapped presents for the kids while JC put together one of their Christmas presents.  We got them a Springfree trampoline for Christmas, and it was delivered on  Friday in 4 HUGE boxes.  JC put together a Survivor-style scavenger hunt for all three kids. They got a letter when they solved each clue.  The letters spelled out the word TRAMPOLINE.  It was fun watching them run all over the house trying to figure out the clues.

On the way home from church, we stopped by Starbucks, and I saved my peppermint mocha for the afternoon.  I put it in my new Starbucks mug and topped it with whipped cream and peppermint sugar!  It was a fun afternoon of listening Christmas carols and wrapping.

Day 354

On Saturday, we did lots of baking for the neighbors, and Emma and Jackson built a gingerbread house!

This is one of the desserts I tried.  I got the recipe from Pinterest.  Obviously I nailed it! Haha

And here is the gingerbread masterpiece. I was so busy in the kitchen that I forgot to snap photos of them decorating it.




I love how it turned out!

Day 353

Friday before Christmas, we had some friends over for desserts and cocktails.  I set up an ornament craft table for the girls to make some homemade ornaments.

More pictures of the ornaments to follow...

Here are some goofy photos that were taken on my phone while I wasn't around.  Haha

Day 352

Throwback Thursday...