I’m sitting at my kitchen counter with a bar of dark chocolate while one of our little boys naps upstairs after being sent home from daycare with a fever yesterday. Looking back through these pictures makes me eternally grateful. With little ones, I find myself treasuring any holiday we get without sickness and spent with family.
Here’s a look at how our winter break went…
Our annual making of our Chex Mix with the boys. I love a “recipe” that is so easy for kids this little, and they can snack while we make it.
And yes, we make it on the floor of the kitchen every year. It works for us.
Morning cuddles with Daddy. And then helping to make Peanut Butter Blossom cookies for Santa…
We went to early Christmas Eve church in the morning for their Children’s service and to watch our niece sing in the children’s choir.
And then we had my family over for Christmas Eve dinner at our house.
After everyone went home, the boys did their bath and put on their Christmas jammies to set out cookies and milk for Santa!
The calm before the storm…
Then Christmas morning started with Santa gifts and stocking opening, followed by presents within our family. The boys each picked out a gift for each other from Five Below, and they both LOVED the gifts their brother got them. Like loved loved. I’m so proud of each of them for thinking through what the other would like and enjoy!
We headed to my parents’ for brunch and more present opening with the cousins and Mimi & Papa.
These cousins are like siblings. And I’m so thankful for that.
Then after brunch, we headed to the Lane house for Christmas afternoon and dinner with Gigi and Pops and Nathan’s siblings.
One of my favorite things that the boys’ daycare does is host a Santa shop where we send in money, and the boys get to shop for their family members’ Christmas present, and the money they collect is donated to charity. Everything comes home wrapped, and we don’t know what the boys picked out for each person until it’s opened on Christmas. This year, Jonathan picked out a fake security camera for his Gigi.
We had a fun and completely exhausting Christmas! We spent the next day cleaning the house, assembling toys, and resting!
Hope your holiday was beautiful!
Such lovely photos! That family photo in front of the trees is just beautiful! We still take the boys shopping so they pick out something for each other (or more accurately nowadays I head into each boy’s room with my laptop and have them pick something out on Amazon!). We were so thankful that everyone was healthy this year for the holidays too.
I just love watching them pick out something for their brother. Truly so special watching that relationship bloom. So glad you guys had a good and healthy Christmas!
I love that you have started the sibling gift exchange early, it’s so fun to see what they pick out. So many special moments, and then you get to do it all again with new baby! A new dynamic.
I thought so much this Christmas about how next year will look different again. Can’t believe there will be three!
A holiday without kids being sick? Are you sure there is such an event? I’ve not experienced this!
Hahaha. Right?! It’s a miracle in and of itself!
What a lovely Christmas. I haven’t tried to make Chex mix in years and now I want to. Your boys are so cute. I love the Santa shop idea.
You’ve got to up the seasoning it calls for to make the perfect Chex mix, in my “expert” Chex mix opinion. 😀