Christmas 2015

Oh truly this may have been one of my most favorite Christmases (is that even a word?) we have had. It seems so silly because truly I did only a tiny bit of what we normally do, but I think that is why it may have been my favorite. In this instance less really was more. 

I spent much of December sewing for 5 children! 2 quilts and 6 pair of jammies for the kids. I had begun this project well before we knew we were sending our Christmas to Ecuador. It was a lot of sewing, but it was worth it. I used knits for kids for the first ever. That was an experience and the seam ripper and I may have become best friends much to my displeasure. Either way I am very glad I was able to sew them their clothes. 

Anthony surprised us with Christmas Eve off. It was so nice. We enjoyed a relaxing day. It was nice for me to just breath and put my feet up. Then we went to the Christmas Eve service. The kids had a great time. Of course holding their own candles was their favorite part. We came home to a quick dinner and clean up. Then they opened their Christmas jammies. 

I have wanted to make her a nightgown for her for several years, it just never happens. Finally I did it this year. This girl and her nightgown slays me. Anthony and I just laugh when we see this. She pretty much would live in it if we let her.

Yes, my stomach is really that big!! I don't realize it until I see pictures. 

The kids were actually all asleep by 8:30 which I think is a first. Presents were all wrapped well before 9:30 and we actually were not up all night getting ready. It was really wonderful. I only had presents to wrap from family and a set of pjs for each child.

Unfortunately I slept on the couch due to  being uncomfortable and had a little girl up almost every hour trying to look at stockings etc. My child is so me. That was me as a kid. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep, but that is ok. They did stay in bed until 7:30 so I can't really complain. 

Anthony and the kids gave me the best present by helping me get the house really clean. I have been neglecting certain things and we did a really good clean and organized a few things. It felt good. It was driving me nuts, but I had no energy to fix it. It may have been the best present ever. 

Anthony and I enjoyed a wonderful date night seeing Star Wars thanks to Grandma. We relaxed the rest of the weekend and had Christmas with Anthony's family on Saturday. The kids all have colds of some sort. At this age it is so much easier to handle. I got to thinking about having a baby with a cold again and realized wait there will be 2! LOL Sunday we relaxed due to them all feeling bad. I worked on getting all the laundry done. We ended up having a movie night and enjoyed that. I even had intermission with popcorn.

It truly was the best Christmas. It was just so relaxing and we did more family than presents. Anthony and I agreed they had the perfect amount to open. There was a mess of trying to figure out where we were going to put all this stuff. The trash wasn't overflowing. There just wasn't a mess and they were not overstimulated. We pretty much decided we will probably keep it this way. We loved being able to give for Christmas to somebody else. Less really was more!

Now we are preparing for some winter weather finally. Unfortunately I don't think it is the weather that is very kind to us. We are in for an ice storm and are preparing to lose power. It is reminiscent of two years ago. Thankfully we are past the holidays instead of before. The laundry is done, dishes are done, and I think we are as prepared as we can be. Here is to hoping we keep our power and not too much damage is done. I don't think our maple can take any more falling limbs without having to be cut down.