Merry Christmas!!!
I hope your holiday was as joyful as ours was, all things considering. Grampy passing put a somber mood over things (even now, writing one of the first posts he won’t see is very strange and sad), but we forged ahead and continued on as best we could. Lots of photos ahead, so grab a cuppa tea and settle in!
This year we started a new tradition with the kids called “The Christmas Express”. I printed up these tickets and hide them under their pillows before bed. While Greg was tucking them all in upstairs, I was busy popping popcorn, making hot cocoa, and putting Christmas music on in the van. Earlier, without the kids knowing, we strung Christmas lights inside the van! Right after story time as the kids were crawling in their beds, Greg told them to check under their pillows and explained that it wasn’t bedtime and that we were going to drive around and look at Christmas lights! They were ECSTATIC! They came running down the stairs full of excitement!
They opened up the front door, made their way to the now festive van, and had their tickets punched to climb aboard the Christmas Express! Days later, London still talks about her “hot cocoa chocolate at night”. This will be a yearly tradition from now on, and I can’t wait until next year to surprise them with tickets under their pillows again!
Christmas morning was so fun this year!
Her one wish…a My Little Pony!
Her one wish…a Furreal puppy!
His one wish…an iPad mini!
A lightsaber and the Jedi cloak I made him
Two of everything!
A happy Jedi!
We decided to head to the Strachan’s for Christmas dinner that afternoon. We had SO much fun! I have an amazing brother and sister-in-law who are so giving, kind, and compassionate. Creativity is also one of their strong suits, and they decided to put on a play of the Christmas Story. Jackson was Joseph and the girls were shepherds.
It was hysterical, to say the least! I need to figure out a way to upload the video of the “production” on here. It was awesome!
The Grandparents and their Crew! {minus one…Bethany had to work!}
Our beautiful family!
The girls got sparkly pink Toms from Nana and Jerry for Christmas. I’m really not sure if they’ve taken them off since except at bedtime. They are ALWAYS on their feet. This morning London and Brooklyn both wanted to praise God for their pink Toms in their prayers, lol! It was a hit, Nana!
This year was the first year in 10 years that I haven’t gone down to Tucson to spend Christmas Eve with my family. It was really hard for me. It’s just become really difficult with the kids because its usually close to 11pm by the time we get home that night, and then Christmas the next day…its a lot. So, my awesome parents decided that they would come to US the day after Christmas! I was THRILLED!
Papa and Jackson battling…Battleship style!
Auntie Melynda!
My stepsister was visiting from New York and it was awesome to get to see her! I can’t wait to make it to New York…perhaps in the fall? {“Don’t you just love New York in the Fall?”…name that movie!}
We had a wonderful Christmas full of blessings. I’m excited to start 2013 and see all that it hold for us! See you in the New Year!
A Tale of Three Cities 
You guys are such awesome parents!!!!