four christmases ?!

Yes, we had four - FOUR! - Christmases.  This is not out-of-the-ordinary for me.  I grew up expecting three (one at home and one with each set of grandparents).  This, though, is the first year my own little family has had so many.  I like it.  It spreads out the holiday madness some, allowing special time for each set of gifts, and helps the kids know exactly what came from who. 

Christmas #1

Our first Christmas was with My Man's parents, who are local to us.  Since we were going to be traveling for the 25th, we got together the previous Saturday.  We began the day with a trip to the movie theater - J's very first! - to see Tangled.  I ignored my conflicted feelings about Disney princesses, and we all had a good time.  It was a fun movie, and both kids enjoyed it.  This was only C's second movie theater movie, and it was a much better choice than the first (The Princess and the Frog - which is a good movie, but is freaky and not as fun).  C got the first present she asked for here: a unicorn pillow pet!
















Christmas #2

Our second Christmas was in Oklahoma with my parents.  Aside from the madness of airline travel with small kids, the week was very relaxing - a real break - just the 6 of us chillin' together.  Except for the brief episode on Christmas afternoon of J vomiting all over the place for 2 hours.  But then he was fine.  C got the second present she asked for here:  zhu-zhu pets.  That was all she asked for, a pillow pet and zhu-zhu pet.  They may be silly, but I appreciate that she's happy with small things!




















Christmas #3

Our third Christmas was our at-home Christmas.  This was the one that involved Santa (who only brings one present each in our household - we've asked Santa to hold back) and our own presents to the kids and each other.  B and I worked to make this particular Christmas a handmade Christmas as much as possible, knowing that the other Christmases would still be filled with bright and shiny store-bought goodness.

Play tents and felt boards:

A puppet theater:

Pixie Hollow (Santa present for C):

Blocks and Snot Rod (Santa presents for J - yes, there are 2, but Snot Rod was so little, and the only thing J asked for, that Santa threw in a second present for good measure):

And apron for Daddy (with matching ones for each kiddo):


Christmas #4

Our final Christmas was actually the same day as Christmas #3, just later in the afternoon.  This one was back at B's parents' home with his sister, Aunt Anita. 



It was a good Christmas season.  And technically it's still going.  The 12 Days of Christmas end on Thursday with Epiphany.  So our decorations are still up, and we're planning a house blessing on Epiphany to mark the day.  We've never done that before, so I'll let you know how it goes.  We just finished up our Jesse tree yesterday since we were out-of-town for so long during the end of Advent.  It's still hanging in our dining room and is a nice reminder of the many characters God worked in and through to prepare us for the coming of the Christ-child. 

Merry Christmas!