Holidays 2012

We debated and debated about taking the kids to go see Santa.  I really wanted them to because that was my most favorite thing to do every year as a child.  Nick, he wasn't too keen on the idea...probably because growing up his mom never made a big deal out of the holidays.  I'm not saying I want my kids to think Christmas is about Santa and presents.  I want them to know about Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.  But we can celebrate the birth of Jesus by opening presents, that's perfectly okay.

So, on the day before Christmas, we headed to our community center where there would be Santa.  Of course, it didn't go as I imagined, but that's okay too.

Both are curious

but then "stranger danger fear", ha!  She had the people behind us feeling sorry for her.  Let's be honest now...I was hoping Sterling would pull on his beard since she's SO busy, ha!

On Christmas Eve I put together the toys and also painted a door sign like ours here for our neighbors across the hall.  I had to have it done and wanted it on their doorstep when they opened their door Christmas morning.  They loved it!  I did it very similar to ours because she kept commenting how much she loved ours.  It was a late night for me (2 am)!  All worth it though!

before the kids woke up

Sterling received a baby Stella doll...I love it, it's so soft.  I think she wanted the doll right away

This was the 3rd gift Xander opened and lets just say that he was NOT interested in anything else. We tried to hide the thing, but he climbed his way to it!  He was obsessed and still is to this day!

Checking out some of their loot

Overwhelmed with all the crap loot!

After waking up from his nap, this was his new favorite toy!  He has a great shot too.  We play basketball a few times each day and it never gets old!  Best gift ever...well besides the wooden German toy, ha!

Xander loves to help lately too.  As he opened each gift, he put the paper in the recycle bag.  Big boy!

What have I learned?  Let's take it easy next year on the gifts.  We bought each kid 5 gifts, but then with all the gifts from grandparents and aunts and uncles, they received WAY too much.  I follow this blog and think it's so smart the way they did Christmas and gifts.  They gave each kid a gift from each of the following categories: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.  I think this is brilliant, Heather!  I think I'm going to use this guide for all holidays that involve gifts.  I already started for their birthdays and bought 3 books for Sterling.  I think I will have the most difficult time in "something they need".  What does a 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 year old "need"?  Besides food and diapers?  I'm excited and think this will help cut down the amount of stuff they receive.  Now, I can't help how much grandparents buy, but it will help.

We took down all their previous toys to our storage room so we would have room for the new toys.  With having such a small playroom, it's a good thing we did that before.  We left a few toys out so they wouldn't be "toy-less" for a week.  It worked and they can have all their toys when we move in 6 months...as long as we live in a bigger place :)

I made Christmas dinner.  We had ham, chicken (for Opa),  home style mac n cheese, stuffing, green beans, and pumpkin pie.  This was my first time cooking a whole chicken and a pumpkin pie from scratch.  We'll just say they were not edible.  I felt horrible because the chicken was still a little pink and that was the only meat Opa would eat.  He's not a pork or beef eater.  I guess all my cooking before this day made up for the undone feast.  He was complementing me everyday saying he didn't know I was so domesticated.  How sweet.  I did do a lot of cooking and baking while he was here and he seemed to enjoy it.

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don't mind the bed head hair

getting used to it

New Years we stayed home and played.  Xander received an amazing gift from friends.  It took putting Sterling on it before he liked it though.  The first time we put him on it and pushed the button, he jumped off so fast and ran away.  It was hiliarious!!!  I wish I had a video of it!

We pray 2013 will bring lots of joy and many new and fun memories!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Have a blessed day!