Christmas fun

Here's what we've been up to...lots of fun for the holidays.

A cookie decorating party with cousin Addison (because mommy waited until the last minute to try to buy ginger bread house kits and there were none to be found in this town).  We I decided decorating sugar cookies shaped like ginger bread houses would be just as fun... and it was!

The funny thing is that these cookies have been sitting on plates on our kitchen counter with plastic wrap over them since Monday and no one has asked to eat their cookies yet.  I have even offered several times.  I think the fun is in the creation!

Sydney sang in the children's choir for Christmas Mass and it was wonderful. We got to sit in the choir loft with her and had the best seats in the house!

After Mass we had fun opening gifts with cousin Addison, unlce Ian, aunt Nathalie and Nana and Papa John back at our house.

The kids were rockin' the bounce house Nana and Papa John gave them!  We set it up in the office since it was so cold out and the kids bounced until they were red-cheeked and sweaty!

Our traditional Christmas Eve cheese dinner with family.  We've been doing this for about four years and enjoy the easiness of this meal (no cooking and almost no prep work required) and how special it is.

Rolling around on our new sets of wheels from Santa.

Breaking in mommy and daddy's new bath tub!  Party in the tub!

The kids loved all the fun of Christmas and loved spending time with family, and so did I.  It is so fun to indulge them with fun!  However, in all honesty, I am SO glad it is over!  For me Christmas is just so overdone here.  All the shopping and wrapping and cards and decorating.  It is completely exhausting.  Last night was the first night I've been in bed before midnight in a long time.  And that was my best Christmas gift - a great night's sleep.  Each year we pledge to simplify (and we do), but it is still so all-consuming.  One day I will figure it all out and sit each night with a warm cup of tea and freshly made cookie and just enjoy the lights on our tree and casually flip through the Christmas cards we received in the mail that day.  Maybe...  Does anyone do that!?!  I think the fact that we just moved in to our house and have not yet unpacked (we still have no bedroom closets built, so clothes and boxes are everywhere) made it more difficult to get my act together this year. I am so looking forward to the fresh start that January 1st brings.  I do every year.

Enjoy the rest of your week off and now that all the work is done, take a minute to enjoy that tree before you haul it out! :)