Christmas Wrap-Up or Unwrapping, Depending on Your Approach...

Feeling like I've talked something to death seems to be a theme lately.  Because I am kinda ready to be done with December.  

Not that anything super fun is happening in January.  Or ever, really.

But you get what I'm saying.

I will happily tell you, the kids are still very much in love with their Christmas gifts.  Not exactly sure why, but I find this comforting.  I hear story after story about kids who open their gifts and then never play with anything.  Or have so much they can't possibly play with it all.  

And believe me, my kids are crazy spoiled.  Even though we really strive to keep things simple.  It's still over the top.

I think I say this every year but we limit the kids to three requests for Santa.  They have other items they ask for and I assign (yes, I assign) those out to family.  This year, though, the kids were kinda specific about who they wanted to give them which presents.

AK wanted Aunt Carrie to give her Princess Rain Boots.  Which I thought was incredibly precious.  And Skillet wanted Uncle Adam to give him the "ninja turtle with two swords."  Adam forgets nothing and I seem to remember he knew a thing or two about the TMNT back in the day.  I had ZERO idea which turtle had two swords or even where he got the idea from in the first place.  But Adam came through.  

Santa starts shopping really early for Christmas.  He buys most things second-hand.  That takes time when you're working off specific requests.  Some of the gifts, he's had since September.

And, truly, it took some serious restraint not to give them out early.  

Because Santa might, maybe, possibly get more excited than the receiver when it comes to gift giving.

Christmas Eve is always with my side of the family.  We cook, eat, open presents, go to the Christmas Eve service at church, have Jesus' birthday party and then let the cousins play while adults visit.

First, I need us to spend a few moments in awe of this photo right here.

That would be my husband.  Peeling potatoes.  

You might notice he looks like he's talking.  And what's he saying is something to the effect of, "Hey!  I help!"  

All I'm saying is, it was rare enough for me to document.

That's all I'm saying.

I took this picture AFTER the presents were opened.  Carrie took some great pictures of the unwrapping process but since I'm not on FB currently, I didn't log on to steal them.  I'm okay with that.  I think this is worth documenting.  The aftermath.  It's epic.

After the presents and the Christmas Eve service, Dad reads us the Christmas story from Luke.  

Miller didn't want his picture taken.

Neither did Rhys.  

Sweet AK smiled on cue.

The cousins love blowing out the candles.  We do actually sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.  The kids love it and its an amazing way to bring something 2,000 years old into terms little people can understand.

One of our yearly goals is to take a nice family picture together in front of the Christmas tree.  The kiddos are too big to hold, really, but too small to stand in front of us.  I feel like they are growing an inch a minute though so that problem will correct itself fast enough.  Or too fast.

After the kids are tucked in and the house is put back in order, we wait patiently for Santa to arrive.  

Nana always helps AK make cookies for Santa.  This is vital part for Pumpkin.  Which is truly precious.

This year, Aubrey Kate asked for the three remaining Disney Princess dolls she didn't have and Pinkalicious and Ladybug Girl books.  

Santa got a little creative.  

After the first of the year, Pumpkin was starting dance classes.  I might be just as excited as her.  Dance was such a huge part of my life throughout childhood.  

So I slipped Santa a note and asked him to bring her some necessities for dance class.  He found all three leotards and ballet slippers on a FB trading site.  For pretty much nothing.  And they are PERFECT.  

She also got Jasmin.  Santa assigned the other two, Aurora and Tiana, to me and Aunt Meredith.  We gave her one as her gift from us before we left town.  

Rhys wanted Transformers.  Which is to say, he really wanted Rescue Bots.  Those are more preschool oriented.  And super easy to transform.  Santa found a police car and three of the characters from the show on that same FB trading site.  Again, for pretty much zero dollars.  It was kind of embarrassing.  He found those way back in September.

He also got an outfit and books.  Not because he asked for them but because the rule is Santa brings something to play, something to wear and something to read.  Good news.  He's yet to want to read those books.  Nor wear the clothes.  But he's crazy about the Rescue Bots.

In their stockings, AK got a pearl and pink gingham necklace and Rhys got PJ's.  Because he absolutely needed PJ's.  All the better that they're Buzz Lightyear.

Pumpkin did not NEED a pearl and pink gingham necklace.  But a true Southern gal is never too young to wear her first strand of pearls.  Santa and I were on the same page about that.  I think he must have a little Southern in him.

Please understand, AK wore those leotards everywhere for the next week.  I am certain Santa is beside himself with how much she loves them.

After Santa presents are all explored, we pack up and head to Meme and Buddy's for Christmas day.  Meme always has gluten-free muffins (which were really good this year!) and Sister Shubert's Pig in a Blankets.  AK LOVES those things.  Rhys always asks, not kidding, for the "pig without the blanket."

I swear.  He is so adorable.

The first thing AK did when we got there was to change into her leotard.

Oh.  And the xylophone.  This was a RANDOM request from AK.  One, unfortunately, she got pretty insistent about around Thanksgiving.  She actually told Santa that's what she wanted.  THANKFULLY, Santa found one in the dollar spot at Target.  

Please, let yourself imagine how IN TUNE that thing is.  It's just beautiful.  But that girl has played with it like crazy.  So it was kinda worth the $3.  

Don't miss that necklace too.  Be still my heart.

As for Rhys' random request...A GORILLA.  A what?  He was so set on it.  Just like his sister and her xylophone.  Aunt Meredith and Uncle Brantley gave him that.  He opened it up, hugged it and said, "I WUV IT!"  He sleeps with it every night.  

Oh, it's as precious as your thinking.

For their clothes, I shop for almost everyone.  I hit the consignment sale before Thanksgiving and get the kids clothes then wrap them up from various family members.  Don't worry.  Said various family members are on board with that plan.  I know what the kids need and will like (and let's not forget both of my precious miracles have weird tactile issues) and I can get way more for very little actual cash.

THIS dress.  I found it on my recon mission the day before the sale and it was the first thing I went for when I got in the door.  There are no words to express to you how much she LOVES this dress.  Aunt Meredith and Uncle Brantley gave it to her.  And they won Christmas because of it.

I should also mention we had a new addition to the family this Christmas.  A super cute one!  Corah and oh my, she owned me.  I got to hold her during one of her naps and let's just say, I was not at all interested in letting that nap end.  

AK was all kinds of Mother Hen about Corah.  She begged and begged and begged to hold her.  Clearly, Corah was thrilled.  

Let's not discuss how many selfies I took with Corah.  It was a little out of control.  But LOOK AT THE CUTENESS.  How could I not take our picture?!?!!?

The last Christmas was with Mrs. JT.  She's the Godmother and the littles are kinda smitten with her.  I wish she could hear how much they talk about her and telling her things or showing her things.  Even from a distance, she is a vital part of their lives.  

Mrs. JT completed Rhys' Rescue Bots collection (or at least what he could get WITHIN REASON for Christmas) (he's quick to remind me he still needs Blaze) (whatever) with Bumblebee.  And she gave Aubrey Kate some Beabo's.  

Which I would like to pile them up in a big bonfire and dance circles around while every single one of those BLASTED beads melts into a sweet forever, never to be seen, or swept off my floor, again.

Oh the things we do for our children.

Yes, she's in leotard number three.  Good thing it was 78 degrees the entire time we were in Alabama.  

Yet again, another wonderful Christmas season.  Fun was had by all and all were spoiled.  Not only with gifts but with love and sharing and just being together.

I'll leave with this story.  While we were in Chicago, Puddin' asked Aubrey Kate what her favorite part of Christmas was.  He says he was expecting Santa or presents but she said her favorite part was lighting the candles at the Christmas Eve service at church.  

That's so her.  She finds the beauty.  

We've taught her the only reason we celebrate Christmas at all is because our Father sent us the most amazing gift in His Son.  And for that alone, we give gifts and sing Happy Birthday and love each other.  

The fact she didn't mention any of the things we talk about so often was a moment of joy for me.  She sees the joy of Jesus and the season in standing together, bathed in candle light, singing Silent Night as the body of Christ.  She sees that.  She understands that.  It wasn't just repeating what we've been teaching her.  But what her Father has been teaching her.  

Another moment of Him showing me just how He created her.  Knit her together.  What an amazing little girl she is.

Oh how my prayer for her is she always finds that beauty.