Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a little bit different this year.  We usually spend it at my parents house, decorating their tree and making cookies before Mass.  This year, we had a relaxing morning before headed to, what I thought, was 4:00pm Mass.  Mass was actually at 3...so we got some coffee and ran an errand before going back to church for 5:30 Mass.  

Mass was so beautiful...my absolutely favorite Mass of the year.  Before Mass, Buford School of Ballet put on a performance of The Nativity.  Zoe was so excited to see the ballerinas!  After Mass, we headed him to get ready for bed because Santa was on his way!

Before bed, the kiddos got to pick out some cookies for Santa and pour him a big glass of milk!

Christmas Fun!

I just love that my kiddos are getting to the age that we can really have fun doing Christmas activities rather than them being more stress than they are worth.  Cookies were in order and I thought it would be fun to watch The Polar Express while the cooked and cooled.

You can't watch The Polar Express without Hot Chocolate!

The kids loved the movie!  I am surprised because it is a little bit scary at some parts.  

Evan kept saying....I hear da bell!  I hear da bell!

Ta Da!  Cookies are ready for Santa and friends!

I just love these sweet babies and all the moments I get the share with them each and every day!

Christmas in Alabama!

Another Christmas in Berry has come and gone and each year it just gets more fun as the kids get older and can do more.  We arrived on Thursday night and stayed in Tuscaloosa with the hopes of doing something fun on Friday.  A nasty day on Friday resulted in us just heading straight to Berry around lunch time.  We spent Friday and Saturday in Berry for all of Grandma's Christmas Festivities.

Friday, we all trickled in at different times but were able to enjoy dinner together.  Zelda ordered a boston butt and some sides and they were DELICIOUS!  And of course she had a handful of yummy desserts that were wonderful.  We all just relaxed and let the kids play and before bed the kids got to open one gift...which they all were beyond excited about!

Friday night, all the kids decorated sugar cones and made them into Christmas trees....well some of them got that far...most got eaten!

Saturday morning came really quick and it was time to open presents from Grandma and Grandaddy and the kids draw names for each other.  Opening presents is always chaos to the max!  I am lucky if I get to take a picture....this year I only got a couple!

We put on a movie for the kids while they waited on all the adults to be ready...

Katie Beth was READY!

Present Time!

The rest of the day we relaxed, ate, napped, ate and relaxed some more!  Such a nice weekend with family!

How is Henry!?!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I absolutely love Christmas time!  I have such amazing memories from my childhood of this time of year and I want my children to have the same.  I think a big part of having amazing memories is creating traditions!

Our family is finally to the point that we can actually do things that the kids will enjoy and are age appropriate.  This year we went to a tree farm to get our Christmas tree.  I really hope to make this a tradition...not necessarily going to a tree farm every year but doing something fun to get our tree...not just buying it from Kroger.

We bought our tree from Thompson's Tree Farm, which is across the street from our neighborhood.  This is the first year we have ever visited the farm and we absolutely loved it!  The farm is family owned and they create such a great environment for families!  We bought our tree, had a wagon ride, feed and pet the cool cows, had hot chocolate in front of the fire and even sat on Santa's lap!  We had such a fun afternoon and then headed home to decorate the house and tree.

 Only lost 5 or 6 ornaments this year :(

I just love having a real tree.  The whole house smells so wonderful!  The kids loved having the tree up, too.  Zoe plugged the tree in every morning and Evan made friends with all the ornaments!  Talk about stressful!  Having the house decorated for Christmas makes it feel so comfy.  As much as I hate cleaning it all up every year, it is so worth it for the month it is all out.