Super Sized Christmas

We realised that it was time for us to have our own Christmas this year, because Boo asked if we would have presents under our tree. This was the first f my 27 Christmases to not open my presents at my parent's house. I was worried that it would be weird. It ended up going really well.

Because of the craziness of our family, we've always had to do a lot of running around on Christmas.

First, we had our Nan Christmas. Giving presents to the kids is quite honestly what Nan lives for all year. We used to go to her house in the evening on Christmas day, but then the kids were tired and cranky and Nan felt short changed. So a couple years ago we started to have our first Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve. I had to work all day, then Lee dropped me off at Nan's house. I wrapped a few last gifts and walked the dogs (Nan's dog and my MIL's dog) while I waited for her to come home. When she got home, we threw the kids into the bathroom and shut the door. Nan hurriedly pulled out all the packages, then shook some jingle bells outside the door.

This gave the kids an hour to drool over the gifts before Lee got off work. He got back a bit later than we wanted but he came bearing pepperoni pizza so it was ok. Sometimes its good to be in food service.

The next morning, we woke up to the phone ringing at 7:15 - it was my father in law wanting to see if we were up yet (ha - we weren't) and wanting to know when we would be over. Then we got up, let the kids peek at the presents and open their stockings.

Then we had cinnamon rolls read the Nativity story in Luke 2 (because, yes, that is what we did every year at home and I will keep doing it with my kids!) and opened our presents. It felt a little weird that we had less presents for the kids than Nan did, but I think we all know that doesnt really matter. The feeling went away really fast because we were all really happy.

Lee and I really enjoy exchanging gifts with each other, too. We know each other really, really well, and can surprise each other with things that we "never knew we always wanted". The best thing was a beautiful winter cloak which I really have always wanted one of. It goes with my Ren Faire dress, but I will wear it all the time.

Lee double and triple wrapped my presents and used as much tape as was humanly possible. He is such a goofball.

After we were done with our own Christmas, we headed over to my parents. There I got my favorite present of all - Lee and my dad talked for two and a half hours. Lee has such a need for someone to talk to him about real things , and it was awesome for him to get to talk to my dad. Me and Mommi talked, too, of course, and Sarah called, I got to talk to Daniel a little bit, and the kids ran around with each other and played with all their new toys. Of course they enjoy each other way more than they enjoy the toys!

Around lunch time, we headed to our last stop - Lee's sister Jackie's home with her boyfriend Danny, my precious nephews, and my father in law. Unfortunately, my father in law decided we were taking too long to show up and he decided not to wait, so it was just Jackie and Danny and the boys. But we still had a blast. They had a god turkey dinner and we exchanged presents and talked family. We all get along very well and that is building into a nice healthy adult sibling relationship. That is awesome.

All in all, it was a very good Christmas, with NO FIGHTING. The kids were grateful and well-behaved. I think we balanced family as best as we could, and still managed to have a peaceful day. Next year at this time we will have a 6 month old to complicate things even more. Woohoo! Only 366 days til next Christmas!