This Christmas was the best. All three of the kids "got it" and it was absolutely magical.
Friday morning Griffin and I ran a few last minute errands on the square. The hustle and bustle of everyone running last minute errands was really fun and totally put us in the Christmas spirit.
One of our errands was picking up our pieces from Walls of Clay. Y'all... I can't even with how sweet it is! I know it's something that I'll treasure and look forward to pulling out every year. I'm packing away Christmas this week but I have a feeling this may stay out into the New Year a bit.
Friday night I made our traditional shortbread cookies and the boys were enthralled with the food processor. My parents actually got this food processor as a wedding gift 35 years ago... how fun is that?!?!
Growing up my mom only made shortbreads at Christmas and she would make a ton and then freeze them in little bags that we would pull out throughout the year. It was always a treat when we'd get a couple in our lunch in the Spring and when they were out we'd count down the days until she made them again. It's one of my most favorite traditions and I love that I bake the shortbreads now.
Christmas Eve morning Mason and Griffin went to my parents house for a bit and Luke and I had some time together in the kitchen. I know I lament about him getting bigger, but sweet moments like this where we can prep food and he can use real knives and help while we chat and listen to Christmas music make me think that MAYBE this growing up thing isn't going to completely suck :)
Later that afternoon we headed to church to meet up with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, nephew and Oma who's visiting from Canada.
We attempted a group picture before we left the house and apparently Luke's Christmas Eve excitement had already set in because...
... What the actual heck?!?! :) He and I laughed SO HARD at the last pic!
We re-attempted when we got to church. Yeah, not so much.
At least our shoes looked cute ;)
Our church doesn't have childcare during the Christmas Eve service and while it can be stressful (fidgety toddlers, sleepy babies, restless kiddos and CANDLES!) it's one of my favorite services of the year. And without fail Mason makes it through about 10 minutes and then he's out. ;)
After church we hosted Christmas Eve and I made way too much food. ;)
Including Sheaffer's apple dip which was as amazing as I remembered it.
Our nephew, Beau, is 15 months old and he and Mason were SO FUNNY together!
I see lots of shenanigans in their future :)
We attempted a great grandchildren picture with my Oma, but Beau hates group pictures. Seriously. He's okay individually, but stick him in a group photo and this happens...
Mason!!! I have no clue what he's doing!
After everyone cleared out we cleaned up a bit and set out cookies for Santa. I have always dreamed about a Christmas Eve where we watch movies, read the Christmas story from Luke, write a note to Santa and go to bed sweetly.... but that hasn't happened for us yet. We've had projectile vomiting, our fair share of meltdowns, kids who fell asleep in church and missed the whole Christmas eve thing and lots and lots of sibling sassiness. All the excitement, sugar and a LONG day can make for a less than picture perfect evening. Or maybe that's just at my house ;)
Christmas morning came bright and early and there is NOTHING better than a bed full of kids on Christmas morning.
We always open stockings in our bed and it's such a sweet way to start our morning. When I was growing up Santa used to leave our stockings at the foot of our bed and Mark and I would get up crazy early and go through them together. At the appointed time we would bring our stockings downstairs and sit in bed with our parents and show them everything.
After stockings we headed out to the family room to see what Santa left!
They played while Dave and I started breakfast and then we opened more presents.
Playing her guitar in her scrubs :)
My parents and Oma came over mid-morning, we ate, exchanged gifts and had the best time.
Everyone went home and we spent the next several hours just hanging out and playing. Perfection!
Mason LOVES Legos but hasn't ever wanted to build a set on his own. Well, on Christmas he decided it was time and put together his set from Santa all by himself!
I look SO TIRED but look how cute he is!!!
Sporting his new TCU gear for lunch at Dave's aunt and uncles house...
It was warm our and everyone got to burn off some energy after lunch.
Be. Still. My. Soul.
Don't even get me started.
And we ended the night like this :) Worn. Out.
It was such a fun Christmas and while we're so sad it's over we made enough memories and had enough fun to hold us over until next year :)
Hope y'all had a wonderful weekend!!!
What a wonderful Christmas celebration! Enjoy the rest of your Christmas break :) Happy Tuesday,Andrea!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!! It was a great one! ;)
DeleteIt looks like Santa thought those McAnally kids were good this year. ;)
ReplyDeleteRight?!?! :)
DeleteYour Christmas looked so much fun!! I had to giggle because I too have these visions of a perfect Christmas Eve evening at home watching movies, etc but we get home so late from family that that has never happened yet! Ha!
ReplyDeleteRight?!?! And Christmas Eve always seems like prime time for a meltdown :)
DeleteMy mom has the same cuisinart from about the same year as yours and she also uses it to make those cookie press shortbread! An Ontario thing? Merry Christmas to your sweet family!
ReplyDeleteMust be! Thank you :)
DeleteAndrea- what is the crayola thing that Mason got? I saw your post on Insta, and it looks like a neat gift for a kid I know. Please tell!
ReplyDeleteIt's the crayola widescreen light designer! It's GREAT! He's having so much fun with it!
DeleteThanks! Sorry I eventually saw your pic with info on Insta after I had posted this! Sorry!
DeleteWhat a wonderful WONDERFUL day!
ReplyDeleteI love the handprint artwork! Truly a treasure! The last picture of G...oh my..precious!
That handprint plate is the only decoration that's still out at my house and I have a feeling it will be a while before I put it away :)
DeleteWhat is that glow board gift?! I have some artists at my house that would love it!! Merry Christmas! ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteIT's the crayola widescreen light designer and it's been so much fun!
DeleteWhat a great Christmas!!! Enjoy the little moments of the rest of your break.
ReplyDeleteThank you! That's the plan :)
DeleteIs someone a TCU alum?? I am myself, but no longer live in Texas. I just love seeing little Horned Frogs!
ReplyDeleteWe're not but his best friends mom is and she's turned him into a fan :) I told her that she picked a good one to recruit because Mason is PASSIONATE about what he loves!
DeleteThat's so sweet! He's picked a good one to be excited about - I see lots of purple in your future :) TCU's the best!
DeleteI had to laugh bc in the last pic in front of your door on Christmas Eve it looks like mason has a man bun! Ha! Turns out just a well placed door knob ;)
ReplyDeleteIt totally does!!! He's rockin' that man bun! :)
DeleteI have read your blog for a long time but have never commented..maybe cause I feel silly..I don't know :) But anyways I love how you talked about what you dream Christmas Eve looking like and what it was actually like...I too have 3 young kiddos and had/ have all these images of what I want it to be like and instead we had longer then usual naps, sibling fights..etc..and my husband is a pastor and we have yet to read the Christmas Story before bed..ha! ( My kiddos clearly know what Christmas is about..I just have this vision of them all sitting in bed listen to my husband read) Anyways..all this to say..I Love your blog and realness...Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful vacation with your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for commenting!!! And YES for reality being much different than our fantasy :) I just try to remember "it doesn't have to be perfect to be perfect" and roll with it :)
DeleteHi Andrea! I just love your adorable family. Could you tell me what the tablet like thing is that Mason is playing with at the table? That looks so neat!
ReplyDeleteSure! It's the crayola widescreen light designer :)
DeleteWhat is that big drawing/easel thing?! That looks so cool!
ReplyDeleteIt's the crayola widescreen light designer
DeleteThe doorknob makes Mason look like he has a man-bun in that last porch picture 😂 Looks like a great Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI had to look twice at that picture because I thought the same thing! :)
Deletewould love the name of easel toy. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSure! It's the crayola widescreen light designer
DeleteGreat pictures! And yes, you'll see that the growing up thing definitely doesn't suck...our son is 15 and our daughter is almost 12, and when they were little I dreaded the older ages but they really are just as amazing as the younger years! Merry Christmas and happy new year!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear!!! I HATE thinking about them getting bigger, but then I get little glimpses of what it will be like to have 'older' kids and I get really excited. Thanks so much for the encouragement!
DeleteIt *is* fun -- a different kind of "fun". . .but still fun. And then there will be grandkids. . .:)
DeleteLooks like a great Christmas! If you haven't already, you may want to check about the Cuisinart recall. I know my mom had to send her blade back
ReplyDeleteGood to know! Thanks!!!
DeleteLooks like such a wonderful Christmas with your family!
ReplyDeleteHi Andrea! What brand of cookie press do you have? Do you like yours? I've been looking for one and would love your input! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Mason is sporting a ManBun in those outdoor Christmas Eve pictures :) I love how you ended this. . .with enough memories and fun to last until next year. Amen!!
ReplyDeleteGriffin.. could she get any cuter???
ReplyDelete