This was probably my favorite Christmas spent back home. In part because our kids are at a really fun age, and they just breathe magic into the holidays for all of us. I loved watching them get excited about every little thing and enjoy each stop with family and friends. It was also nice because I managed to lay down some of the expectations of all I dream of "accomplishing" this time of year with the boys – the craft projects, Truth in the Tinsel, Polar Express, and the list goes on. I let go and found myself more at peace. A less formal plan was definitely what this mom needed.
One other thing that made this Christmas so special was the unexpected visits with old friends. While shopping one day, I ran into my college roommate who I just adore and haven't seen in years. Another day, I saw our old next door neighbor from our house in Frisco who I think about from time to time and wonder how she is. And a family friend from Dallas stopped by to see us - which was such a treat because if she hadn't traveled our way, we were going to miss her this time around. I felt like God gifted me time and time again with these sweet surprises.
Our time spent with family is so precious. We just don't get enough of it, so we tried our hardest to stay "in the moment" as much as we could. I've learned that sometimes being in the moment requires me to put the camera down for a while. I remember a couple of times thinking, "Oh, that would be such a great photo!" But I chose to live on the other side of the lens for the most part this year. You might not think so when you scroll through the photo dump I'm about to drop, but believe me when I tell you, this is scaled back! Let's just call this making-up-for-lost-time. ;-)
Here is a taste of our Christmas 2013.
The boys and I left right after Thanksgiving, but before we could roll out, we had elf work to do here. Alex and Roo assembled their class gifts one afternoon – Rudolph's spare noses. As usual with any project that involves food around here, a few were consumed during the assembly process. What can I say, we started the holiday binge a little early.
I found these Santas in the dollar bin at Target. The boys loved decorating them up with all of the stickers. I would ask Roo, "What does Santa say?", and he would respond, "HOpe, HOpe, HO!" =)
I even let them hang them on their doors – which they were absolutely thrilled about! It took me back to my childhood. I used to decorate my door and a large corkboard for just about every holiday!
Our Christmas card photo sessions are rarely successful on round one. But I did get a few that, while I wasn't crazy about for the card, I did like pretty well for my memory book.
Now this one could be one of my favorites of all time of Alex. LOVELOVELOVE this sweet boy!
The shot from round one that I almost used. Poor Roo. We had woken him up from a nap to catch the "golden hour" of sunlight, and he was not really all that amused. Neither was I by the end of that first round. :-/
A family photo at Pops and Nana's after a full day of Christmas fun.
From the second round of Christmas card photos. I look at this first picture, and I hear Roo saying, "CHEEEESE!!!"
Noni and Roo decorating the Christmas tree. He made her day because he was the only one who expressed interest in hanging the ornaments. And, boy, did he ever! Every limb around the bottom of that tree was adorned until the limbs were sagging to the floor!
The boys did 12 random acts of Christmas kindness for Noni and Pop Pop's gift this year. One of their acts was to donate children's books to the Free Little Library box in Noni and Pop Pop's neighborhood.
We traveled to Dallas for our annual friend dinner with my besties from high school. This is our little gaggle of kiddos. The boys had such fun re-acquainting themselves with the rest of the group who gets more face time together. They fell right in and had a blast.
And these are are some of the most precious girls I know. This year it has struck me that God has been so merciful to me in the people he's put in my life. Not only has he given me truly amazing friends (which I have ALWAYS been thankful for), but he has also given me people who have challenged me by their actions to be a better version of myself. I credit these sweet souls for much of that. Always encouraging, always rising to new heights, always letting me walk along side them. My heart is so full.
And this is one of my absolutely adorable nieces. Little Blayklee is growing up too fast. I know Zack and Candice would like to stop time for all three of their girls the same way I'd like to for my boys!
Um, this one is definitely NOT camera shy. He's so accommodating with the poses! When he's in good spirits, that is. LOL! Roo and Alex spent a lot of time running and throwing themselves into huge leaf piles at Pops and Nana's and at Ganny and Grandpa's.
Pops bought some pint-sized fishing poles for the boys. Unfortunately, the temps were a little cool so the fish weren't biting that day. Maybe we can make a summer trip to Texas. ;-)
We were glad that Alex rallied himself. He had been sick with a stomach bug just a few days before (apparently, Christmas is not Christmas in Texas without someone in the family throwing up), and he was still not feeling all that well. In fact, on this day, when Jerry asked him if he wanted to take a nap, he said yes. Never in his four and a half years of life has he ever said "yes" to that question. :-(
Another of the 12 days gift for Noni and Pop Pop. The boys donated bags of dog food to the SPCA.
The boys had breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. And the lap time was perfect for putting in the Christmas requests.
They had worked hard on their letters which they took to the big man. Each one got to ask for two things. Alex asked for a super-charged Dusty with Ripslinger's teammates and a black-colored Dusty (from Planes). Roo asked for Tinkerbell "bam-baids" (band-aids) and a pink Hexbug.
At Noni and Pop Pop's. Their house is semi-cleared out after having a contract on it that fell through. I had the best time taking pictures in their wide open spaces. =)
We got to spend a couple of nights with Jerry's little sister's family. The kids had a blast together! They enjoyed opening their presents, but I think they enjoyed watching old episodes of Tom and Jerry even more! The boys have a new favorite cartoon, and you should hear Alex belly laugh!
Making our reindeer food. We were ready to super-charge those reindeer with a belly full of sugar sprinkles and oats!
On Christmas Eve just before loading up to attend the candlelight service at church. We didn't plan to be color coordinated, but since we were, we took full advantage!
When we got back from church, the pajama elves had made a little delivery on the front door step. They dropped off this book, and a neatly wrapped package with new pjs for the boys. When Alex heard the story, he exclaimed with both hands in the air, "YES! This means I made the good list!!!!!"
Christmas morning with the pink hex bug.
And with the super-charged Dusty.
My step-sister Audra got this dragon/dinosaur cape for Alex. It is PERFECT for him! He's had lots of fun wearing it around the house and even wore it on an errand the other day. I was amused. His daddy, notsomuch. LOL!
She got Roo this aviator hat, which is so appropriate given the boys' love of Planes right now.
Miss B. loved her Minnie Mouse ride-on. She didn't care about any of her other presents that afternoon. And a couple of times, Roo may have tried to boot her off to have his turn on the pink ride-on. I'm just sayin'.
Happy as a clam playing Hungry Hippos all by himself.
Well, Blayklee may have been excited about her ride-on, but it was nothing compared to her sisters' excitement levels over the mermaid tails that Noni and Pop Pop gave them. These girls get the trophy for most excited over a present - maybe ever! They would have stayed in these tails all day long. And according to their mom, they spent a good long while in the tub that night, too!
Roo racing his Dusty flyer.
A night out with Nana and Pops. We went to Marshall again this year to see the lights, but it ended up being a bit of a bust. Not to worry, we turned it into a fun night with a trip to one of our favorite hometown pizza joints called Pizza King and an evening of glow-in-the-dark putt-putt.
Celebrating Christmas with Jerry's family. We had a great time hanging out and catching up and eating good food. A few days before, Jerry's parents had taken us to the mall so that they could let Alex do the bungee jump and we could all do the Christmas train. I wish I'd gotten a pic that was half decent of that little excursion, but they didn't turn out so well. We had a great time tooling through the Christmas traffic on that little train, though. And you know how my little thrill-seeker was in heaven on that bungee thing. His squeals of delight rang throughout the entire mall!
This may be our last porch picture at Tallulah (Noni and Pop Pop's house). Each year we've done a porch picture on this big ol' girl's steps, and with the house on the market, we may have shot our last one. So glad we were able to squeeze in one more!
We were so blessed by our time back home. I hope you had a blessed Christmas, too, and that your New Year is off to a grand start!
