That's a Wrap - Christmas 2015

Another year, another wonderful Christmas!  

We hope you all had a lovely Christmas holiday - 

filled with family, friends, and merriment! 

Our festivities started early on Christmas Eve. 

You will probably notice that I put Max in his church

clothes early in the morning (to avoid any clothing

tantrums later in the day).  As soon as we came 

downstairs, he noticed all the presents under the tree. 

He ate a tiny bit of his breakfast before requesting

to open the presents.  So, we went to get Daddy (still sleeping!)

and got the show on the road. 

 

Rob and I decided once again to do the "four gift rule" - which

means that Max got

1.) Something he wanted: Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block set

2.) Something he needed: Magnetic Fabric Numbers 

3.) Something to wear: a new shirt (he could have cared less about this)

4.) Something to read: I created him an ABC book based on pictures

of him doing things that began with the appropriate letters.  I did make 

one exception for this one, in that I also got him a stamp pad

art book that we can work on together :)

I think this system works nicely - and hopefully by starting this

early, he won't be annoyed later when there are still just four presents. 

We also opened the presents sent over by Mema and Pops. 

I think Max actually liked these better than the ones we got him 

because it was lots of Legos!  He was literally shouting, 

"I got Legos Mommy" while unwrapping it. :)

We played for a bit with our new toys before 

deciding to make the most of the beautiful weather

and go to the park. 

Who would have thought that on December 25 it would

be warm enough to go to the park?  

It was almost 60 degrees out and we were the only 

people there...but it was fun!  And, a nice way to 

burn off some energy before getting in the car for the drive to Dayton. 

We ate our traditional Chick Fil A lunch (complete with 

Peppermint chocolate chip milk shake) and 

got on the road shortly after. 

 

On Christmas Eve we always go to church

at my childhood church - St. Charles.  This 

year we went to the 5:00 mass (though Mims insisted

we get there at 4:00).  The 5:00 has a children's choir which 

I actually really like.  Max did really great sitting between 

Mims and Auntie Stacy while we waited for Mass to begin. 

He went through all (and I mean every single one) of the books

we brought.  Then, Mass began (complete with incense)

and we burned through all the snacks pretty quick (two pouches, 

Mickey veggie chips, and Annie's farm crackers) and he could

be loudly heard saying "I want Mass to be over" (me to kid, me too). 

Needless to say, we left right after Communion and headed over to my

Mamaw and Papaw's house. I thought Max might be overwhelmed with

all the unfamiliar faces...but alas, he warmed up (for the most part)

and happily ate SO MUCH CHEESE, and carrots, and cookies.

And then he got to help pass out presents...and play with toys, 

and have Papaw sing Rocky a By Baby and Old Blue...

and soon it was off to "rest".  He fell asleep around 9:30 and I just

put him on my Grandparents bed (between a mountain of pillows).

We've been going to Mamaw and Papaw's for

as long as I can remember too...and I hope we 

get to go there for many more years to come. 

It's one of the only times a year that we get to

see my cousins and my aunt and uncle. 

Even if they tell the same stories every year, 

and my Mamaw frets about what everyone is going 

to eat, it's a good time! (Made even sweeter

by the fact that after my Grammy died, they started

including Poppy too). 

We headed home around 10:45....and set up 

our gifts and stuffed the stockings! 

It was a Christmas miracle in that Max slept till 

about 7:30 on Christmas Day and we managed to convince 

him to watch the iPad in our room until about 8:15...so everybody 

got about an extra hour of sleep (Merry Christmas to us!).

We did our stockings first and then settled

in for a Christmas breakfast.  My sweet mom

went out of her way to please everyone. Max got

some delicious chocolate chip waffles with applesauce.

And, the adults enjoyed breakfast casserole.

(4 ingredients...and so delish!)

 

 

Max loved passing out presents and opening presents.

He spotted the presents wrapped in Thomas Train

paper and immediately knew they were for him.

His big present was a set of Magna Tiles and

Fire Station Legos.

 

We played with the Magna Tiles all day.

We built buildings with roofs, tunnels or trains,

houses, a zoo (for Pepe, Ziggy, and Bear), and

even connected them all on the floor flat.

I just love them.  I love that they

are open ended with no pictures of what you

have to create. It was hours of fun for all!

 

At the end of the morning day this was the only family

photo we got. We were all tired, and happy...and

enjoying our Christmas presents (and presence :).

 

Until next year,

xoxo