Christmas break

Lazy.  I've been lazy.  Like my idea of cooking yesterday was ramen noodles for lunch, and hot dogs & mac 'n cheese from the box for dinner.  And each saucepan is still sitting in the sink waiting to be washed this morning.  Heck, even loading into the dishwasher seems like a chore large enough to put off until tomorrow.  Tom has been home all week joining in the fun.  He won't let me get away with it too long.  Not that he's been too far behind me on the lazy train, but he has gone to the grocery several times and has worked out every day.  That's more than I can say.  Like I said, it's been a wonderful Christmas break.
 

I admit the first day the girls were off of school, it was touch and go.  There was a lot of complaining of 'we're bored', and asking if we could go do something.  But by the second day, they had Christmas in their cross hairs and I have enjoyed having them all home since :)

 We've gotten quite a bit of snow this past week (quite a bit compared to last year, at least) and the girls have enjoyed playing in it. And when they aren't doing that, they've been playing with their toys or watching TV while I've been being lazy. And when I manage to get up off my sorry butt, we've all played together. It's been really great. The house has been in a constant state of disaster and I've embraced it. I figure it's either I leave the house to find something for us all to do as a family or I live in chaos of fun they are creating. I can handle chaos safely from my seat on the couch, thank you. Or the small area that gets cleared for me to sit on the floor next to them to play games.


 

 



 



Last month there was a groupon or something for half off tickets to EnterTrainment Junction here in West Chester, so we took the girls Friday.  We all had a great time.  I loved miniature doll houses and such as a kid, so all the little miniature figurines and buildings had my attention.  Emily liked the trains and Casey was given a scavenger hunt to find 21 mini Santa's hidden throughout the displays.  They even had a fun house that was really cool.  I was sure to spend some time holding down the couch later in the day when we got home :)

  

I may actually be sad to see the girls go back to school and Tom go back to work. Maybe not once I get a view of my floors again....

 

                           

 

     

Christmas 2012

My blessings

Indeed the most wonderful time of the year!  We had a great Christmas and I am once again reminded of how blessed I am.  I have the best husband and the best kids.  And I know no present under the tree will ever rival these precious gifts I have.  But I did get a pretty fabulous birthday/Christmas gift (my camera!!), so I will just let the pictures I took with that gift show the fun we had this Christmas.  I didn't get the lighting, exposure, and editing done right, but cherish every memory captured.

Tom got a bit tired of me and my camera :)

We travelled in the car. 

A lot.

Christmas with my family.

Cousins

Excited for Ady to open the first gift

Nana was a much better sport about posing for pictures than Tom

Emily's turn!

Telling Casey to back off, she's got it.  (I love Ady's excitement at what might be in Emily's present)

Every gift had an audience :)

 

When you hear someone say Christmas is for kids, this is what they are talking about

A BIG hug for papa (she loved her gift!!)

Home for Christmas Eve

Tracking Santa's progress around the world on NORAD is Casey's favorite Christmas Eve activity



Casey was a bell ringer at the Christmas Eve children's mass

Sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn

Leaving notes for Santa

And cookies

And milk

 Christmas morning!


I loved every single minute of our kids' pure excitement this Christmas.
 

I didn't need to open a single gift - these moments were the best present of all.



Emily, what is in that big gift??

A kitchen!

 Christmas with Tom's family.

Emily and grandpa

Special moments

Great-grandma Bickham

Grandma and Grandpa

Cousins

 

Wonderful Christmas memories.  Consider them captured.