A Christmas Recap

This year was the first (and probably last!) time that I hosted every holiday event (Thanksgiving and Christmas related) for both sides of the family at my house. It was by my request, just because I figured it made more sense to have people over instead of lugging along infant necessities everywhere we went. But man-- it was exhausting. And just to be clear, I use the term "host" loosely. I didn't do any of the cooking (because unless frozen chicken nuggets or mac & cheese is on the menu, you probably want me out of the kitchen), but just maintaining the level of cleanliness required to have a constant flow of company in and out of your house is no easy feat. Especially with a 3-year-old and 4-month-old.

Still, it was a great holiday season. We had my in-laws over for our Christmas dinner and gift exchange on the Saturday before Christmas. Then, we had everyone (my family and Matt's family) over for Christmas Eve dinner. This was the first Christmas in several years that we haven't spent the night at my parents' house on Christmas Eve and I knew they were a little bummed by the thought of missing out on seeing the kids coming down the stairs and discovering their Santa stuff on Christmas morning. So, we invited them over bright and early on Christmas morning so they could be a part of the Santa excitement again. Afterwards, my sister and her family headed down to our house and my dad cooked us our traditional Christmas breakfast of oyster stew (minus the oysters for most of us) and delicious omelets.

Once breakfast was eaten, the family gift exchange began. Let me tell you: having a family room full of five children (ranging in age from 4 months to 7-years-old) simultaneously opening gifts? And then, just for kicks, throw in 7 adults too? It was total and utter chaos. But it was the best kind of craziness: excited squeals, discarded wrapping paper everywhere, toys covering every square inch of the floor, and lots of, "Look what I got!"

And even though it took me over 2 hours to clean up the aftermath of the tornado that took place in my house that morning, it was completely and totally worth it. I'd say Christmas 2012 was a success. But I'll go ahead and formally relinquish all hosting duties for Christmas 2013 right now.

Excited about Santa (or: excited about Minnie Mouse that Mommy is holding up over her head!)

 

Sprinkling (dumping) the reindeer food he made with friends & cousins on Christmas Eve.

 

Working hard on Santa's cookies.

 

My parents took Camden to church on Christmas Eve, where he dressed as an Angel for the telling of the Christmas Story.

 

Camden's gifts from Santa. And no- we do not wrap presents from Santa. My parents never did it for us growing up, either. I think it's a southern thing? I'm not sure. Only presents to and from family members are wrapped because duh- Santa doesn't have time for wrapping gifts.

 

Macey's gifts. She also got Camden's old jumperoo handed down as a Santa gift.

 

Macey and Daddy on Christmas morning.

 

Camden & Will playing with one of Camden's favorite gifts: Hungry Hungry Hippos.

 

Macey was just a little bit excited about her new Minnie Mouse.

 

Dr. Will performing a procedure on Camden with Camden's new doctor kit.

 

Pop (my dad) told Jacob & Alex (my nephews) that he'd pay them each $20 if they ate an oyster. Believe it or not, they were able to stomach those nasty little creatures. (For the record, my dad also offered my sister and me $100 to eat an oyster and neither of us could do it.)

 

The omelet chef hard at work.

 

Macey modeling one of her new outfits.

 

Like father, like son: relaxing at the end of a fun but exhausting day.