Christmas

This Christmas was a bittersweet one.  Emma was REALLY into all things "Christmas."  She adored driving around and looking at lights, Christmas music, baking, making an Advent calendar snowman, and decorating the house.  However, always near the forefront of my mind was the missing piece.  Christmas was Dad's favorite holiday and he LOVED to give gifts.  He was famous for asking my input for all of Mom's gifts, and then, after all of the gifts were opened, sneaking somewhere and pulling out her "big" gift.  It was always a complete surprise.  He also always tucked an envelope for each of us (Brad too, once he was in the picture) with some spending cash on the tree. 


There are so many traditions that I want to keep and continue with my family.  There are also a lot of new ones to be made, and we got a good start this year!  Our favorite was Stone Mountain.  They had a TON of lights and decorations, Santa, a Snow Angel, lots of stuff to do, and a special Christmas train ride (our favorite).  Several times we piled in the car, hot chocolate in hand, with Christmas tunes on the radio and checked out light displays that we had heard about or remembered from our own childhoods.  We also made reindeer food, and cookies for Santa on our new special Santa plate.

We baked a lot, and made fudge.  We decorated the house, though there were several decorations (particularly my beloved Rudolph houses) that we chose not to put out because someone (I won't mention a name) likes to sneak off and play with things she shouldn't.  I got Emma her own tree this year.  She chose purple.  She had her own unbreakable ornaments on it to mess with as she pleased.  It REALLY helped keep her grubby little hands off of the big tree!


On Christmas eve we woke up early to go to breakfast with Grandpops for his birthday.  Afterwards we all came home and took a nap to prepare for the festivities.  We got dressed and headed to the children's mass at church.  As I was taking a few photos outside before church, our neighborhood Santa and Mrs. Claus came by on the back of a pickup truck.  He drives around and visits the children of the neighborhood on Christmas eve.  Emma is NOT a big Santa fan, though she talks a good game.  He came over and offered her a candy cane.  She decided it MIGHT be worth it, and met him halfway to get the candy.  The poor little thing shook like a leaf the whole time.

After he left we went to church.  Both girls made it through the whole thing!  Emma took one little break to walk around with Daddy, and Abby fell asleep less than halfway through  in my arms, but they made it like angels!  We had Waffle House for supper (my mom and dad's tradition) and then went to bed early.  Mimi and Bailey spent the night and got to be there first thing for Christmas morning.

Abby woke up first, and we had to wake Emma up around 8:45 after I just couldn't wait anymore!  They were both so excited!  Santa brought Emma an easel and lots of art supplies, a picnic table, 2 Gabba pillow friends to complete her set, a princess castle tent, and a few random toys.  Abby got lots of little toys, some bibs, and teethers.  She needs them - we think she's cutting her first tooth!

We played a lot and exchanged our own gifts before breakfast.  Lunch was not too much later, and then we all took a nap.  We got up and ready and went to Brad's parents' house for Christmas dinner.  I completely forgot to bring my camera, but will add some pictures once I get a copy.  The girls were spoiled ROTTEN this year!  We think we may begin an "each of you gets __ gifts" from us next year.  It would be different if Santa and mom and dad were the only gift givers, but both grandparents outdo Santa every year!

We had an excellent Christmas and made it through with no tears.  It was nice for it to be completely different than every other year.  Though my Dad's presence was sorely and noticeably missed, it was nice to have new traditions and new plans so that it was bearable.  


We're enjoying our decorations too much to take them down just yet, but I want to get it done before Brad goes back to work.  Isn't un-decorating just the worst?