I got a wild idea to make my kids some cute Christmas shirts. I don't know why I do this to myself and I'd like to say I'll never tackle a bunch of projects during the month of December again, but we all know better by now. I was up until the wee hours of the morning finishing these for my girls to wear to their class parties. They turned out C-U-T-E though!
Carter clearly did not want a Rudolph shirt so I found him a fun Grinch shirt instead.
Having my parents and brother here for Christmas was super fun. We were busy with a lot of things but took a lot of time to just be together. Before Christmas we had to finish off some of our traditons. We decorated a gingerbread house with my mom. I bought a different kit this year and ended up having to hot glue the pieces together which was a huge pain. It stayed together really well though. My little girls ate the candy while the rest of us decorated.
I was bound and determined to be done with all our projects and stuff (delivering neighbor gifts, wrapping, grocery shopping, etc) before Christmas Eve Day so we could enjoy the day together. We baked and decorated cookies in the morning, went to a movie in the afternoon and had a delicious Mexican fiesta for dinner (enchiladas, tamales, chile rellenos, flan). After dinner we had a fun Christmas concert that my kids worked hard on preparing for all month. We let the kids each open a gift before tucking them into bed.
Christmas morning was different since we had to work church into the morning. The adults got up early and got completely ready before we woke the kids up at about 7:15 (we have yet to have an early Christmas morning). We got everyone downstairs and opened stockings and had breakfast. The kids got these funny googly eyes in their stockings and Emery was completely fascinated by them.
Before we headed off to church. I wish you could see the girls dresses better because they were so cute this year!
After 9:00 a.m. church we all came home and climbed back into jammies and opened presents. I hardly took any pictures of the gift opening this year and regret it a bit but I loved just being in the moment with my family instead. I got these HUGE Bubba mugs for Allen and Steve kind of as a joke but they love them. Years ago we got some huge mugs at Lagoon during a family reunion that everyone in my extended family loves. They need to be replaced so I got these for the boys. So funny!
My parents, Allen and I worked very hard and late into several nights building beds for the girls’ American Girl dolls. Allen and my dad built and painted the beds (using this plan from the amazing Ana White site:Doll Farmhouse Bed ), my mom did all the fabric cutting and I did all the sewing. We wouldn’t have been able to pull it off with my parents helping out. The girls love, love, love their beds and have played with them constantly. We made a bed to give Emery eventually but I haven’t made bedding for it yet. (Again with the insane projects!)
Makenna was my only child who wanted a picture with her gifts. Santa brought her an electric scooter (huge, huge hit) and we got her a GoGo puppy, sewing kit, school play kit, movies, AG bed/bedding and stocking stuffers. Allen’s mom got all the girls BYU cheerleading outfits and my parents took the girls to Build-A-Bear a few days after Christmas. Her sibs picked out yet another baby doll for her.
Carter got an electric scooter, Nerf Gun Dart tag set, BYU jersey, LEGO idea book, Harry Potter movies, watch, and stocking stuffers. My parents gave him a leatherman and Gma Frost gave him a BYU shirt and hat. His sisters picked out a Battleship game for him.
Addison got a Bitty Twin from Santa and we gave her a GoGo puppy (after she fought with Makenna over hers we returned a gift and got her her own), Cinderella castle alarm clock, magnetic doll kit, AG doll bed, movies and stocking stuffers. The kids picked out some princess Polly pockets for her.
Emery got a Bitty Twin from Santa, a ball popper from us along with some clothes and books. Our kids were quite concerned about the lack of gifts for E but it is so hard on the 4th child to find anything we don’t already have. The kids gave her a fun light up/talking ball thing that she loves!
As a family we got a Blu-Ray player and a bunch of new movies.
We spent the rest of the day playing with toys, snacking on yummy treats and watching movies. After a yummy ham dinner we acted out the nativity
In the days following Christmas we ventured to the mall to go to Build-A-Bear. Addison chose a cupcake bear that she dressed in a Rapunzel dress (of course). Makenna chose a monkey that she dressed in a sparkly ball gown. My girls loved the experience and keep begging to go again!
We also spent an entire afternoon making homemade ravioli. All my life my mom has made ravioli during the holidays. It is a recipe that has been passed down for many generations and is a huge treat for us. My kids also had fun helping and I think this is the year for me to get my own ravioli supplies. It’s so fun to share a generations-old tradition with my kids!
We put together our "Christmas Carol" puzzle that my family has been doing since 1978. I've blogged about this puzzle before but can't find the post for the life of me. My parents bought this puzzle in 1978 and we have done it every year since. We love this puzzle and it holds one of the most fond sets of memories of my childhood. I love all that it represents - tradition, love, family, the holidays. A few years ago my little brother scoured eBay and was able to find each of the kids the exact puzzle we had growing up. AWESOME! So now my little family does the puzzle each year and so do each of my siblings families (one might say we are a bit obsessed with this puzzle!)
We spent an afternoon bowling together where my mom and I tore it up!
My parents, Allen and I worked very hard and late into several nights building beds for the girls’ American Girl dolls. Allen and my dad built and painted the beds (using this plan from the amazing Ana White site:Doll Farmhouse Bed ), my mom did all the fabric cutting and I did all the sewing. We wouldn’t have been able to pull it off with my parents helping out. The girls love, love, love their beds and have played with them constantly. We made a bed to give Emery eventually but I haven’t made bedding for it yet. (Again with the insane projects!)
Makenna was my only child who wanted a picture with her gifts. Santa brought her an electric scooter (huge, huge hit) and we got her a GoGo puppy, sewing kit, school play kit, movies, AG bed/bedding and stocking stuffers. Allen’s mom got all the girls BYU cheerleading outfits and my parents took the girls to Build-A-Bear a few days after Christmas. Her sibs picked out yet another baby doll for her.
Carter got an electric scooter, Nerf Gun Dart tag set, BYU jersey, LEGO idea book, Harry Potter movies, watch, and stocking stuffers. My parents gave him a leatherman and Gma Frost gave him a BYU shirt and hat. His sisters picked out a Battleship game for him.
Addison got a Bitty Twin from Santa and we gave her a GoGo puppy (after she fought with Makenna over hers we returned a gift and got her her own), Cinderella castle alarm clock, magnetic doll kit, AG doll bed, movies and stocking stuffers. The kids picked out some princess Polly pockets for her.Emery got a Bitty Twin from Santa, a ball popper from us along with some clothes and books. Our kids were quite concerned about the lack of gifts for E but it is so hard on the 4th child to find anything we don’t already have. The kids gave her a fun light up/talking ball thing that she loves!
As a family we got a Blu-Ray player and a bunch of new movies.
We spent the rest of the day playing with toys, snacking on yummy treats and watching movies. After a yummy ham dinner we acted out the nativity
In the days following Christmas we ventured to the mall to go to Build-A-Bear. Addison chose a cupcake bear that she dressed in a Rapunzel dress (of course). Makenna chose a monkey that she dressed in a sparkly ball gown. My girls loved the experience and keep begging to go again!
We also spent an entire afternoon making homemade ravioli. All my life my mom has made ravioli during the holidays. It is a recipe that has been passed down for many generations and is a huge treat for us. My kids also had fun helping and I think this is the year for me to get my own ravioli supplies. It’s so fun to share a generations-old tradition with my kids!
We put together our "Christmas Carol" puzzle that my family has been doing since 1978. I've blogged about this puzzle before but can't find the post for the life of me. My parents bought this puzzle in 1978 and we have done it every year since. We love this puzzle and it holds one of the most fond sets of memories of my childhood. I love all that it represents - tradition, love, family, the holidays. A few years ago my little brother scoured eBay and was able to find each of the kids the exact puzzle we had growing up. AWESOME! So now my little family does the puzzle each year and so do each of my siblings families (one might say we are a bit obsessed with this puzzle!)
We spent an afternoon bowling together where my mom and I tore it up!
We had a fabulous and BUSY holiday season. It was wonderful to have my family in town and to make so many fun memories together! Until next year!
7 comments:
Love the doll beds and bedding! Good job, loved the Christmas card, hoping next year I will get ours out too!
I was wanting to get Rosie a Bitty Baby but felt a little silly as she is so young still. But seeing that you got a doll for Emery just tells me that I'm not completely insane. I think she'll get hers for her birthday.
O.K., there are so many adorable things in this post!! My favorite: Emery looking at Allen wearing the googly eyes.
I love the puzzle. I love that your brother found you all a "copy". So cool.
What a happy Christmas! And even getting parents too!
Tradition...totally why this time of year is wonderful. I think it is fun to see all the fun traditions you have made and are continuing with your family.
Homemade ravioli? How fun!
Ohhhhhh, I so love all of your special holiday traditions! I better hurry up and establish some or my kids are only going to remember me reminding them to thank people for any gift they receive even if they hate it or have it already, lol.
The doll beds and bedding are so super cute and extra special because of all the love that was poured into them! Love the shirts you made your girls too, they are ADORABLE in them!
My mind is swimming from all this goodness, I'm going to forget to comment on everything....
The shirts are darling!
The AG beds are bedding - TDF!
So fun to have your family there with you.
Love how you do so many fun, little things together.
You got a new imac? SWEET!
Your Christmas was positively magical. Well done!
ohh...those beds! can i say how jealous i am that you found a PATTERN??? last year i SCOURED the internet for one and never found one. i would have killed for that. it was hard to make them without one. they turned out adorable and if i can tell you from experience with my girls and their beds, they will be played with so so so much! every thing in this post was picture perfect!
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