Christmas Thoughts

Happy New Year! Last night we didn't do a whole lot. I went down to my families house in the morning and the kids played outside and did whatever it is they do all day while we're there. Kurt got off at 2:00 (a nice surprise) and we were able to go to Mass that evening with my family instead of waiting to go this morning and being so tired. The guys played cards and we just hung out and laughed and talked.. that's really what I like doing the most anymore. I showed Sara how to put Liam in the sleepy wrap. Brennan doesn't care for it for now, so until next baby ;-) it will be getting good use. We headed home around 10:15 and were asleep right before midnight. We're old!

Christmas was different this year, it never really seemed like Christmas except there was gift giving. Christmas Eve we headed to my parents house, all my siblings were there so it was nice to see everyone, but we've been seeing everyone so much anyway it wasn't anything out of the ordinary (which in away is nice). We all went to Mass and both the babies slept which was awesome. I love going with my family because everyone helps out with Landen & Amelia. Not that Landen needs to be watched when he's with the boys.. he just sits there with them and behaves. Ethan was an alter server and I was so glad to see him up there, he did so good.. I can't believe how grown up he's getting. Afterwards both sets of my grandparents came over to open presents and eat dinner. It was yummy and gift giving was really nice. Jake had Kurt and got him all the rebate (free) items from Menards. It was hilarious and awesome at the same time. I think we should do cool things like that for Christmas gifts! My mom's birthday was the 28th so we gave her the gift we got/made for her early. Sadly a lot of my mom's photo's got ruined from water damage so we all went through our millions of photo's and printed as many as we could out and put them in albums of all of us from as far back as we had. I loved seeing them all - great gift in my opinion. We even made a grandchildren one and I have the cutest photo of Liam, Landen, Amelia & Brennan. :) It was a relaxing night and just kind of seemed like any other night with the family though.

Christmas day we surprisingly woke up fairly early. The kids liked finding their stockings and opened up baby Jesus and placed him in the manger. I think they really understood and we sang happy birthday to Jesus. I kind of came up with this idea as to how to explain getting gifts from each other and giving gifts for the kids since they didn't understand why "we" we were getting gifts on Jesus's birthday. I just said that Jesus loves us so much that he wants us to give "love" gifts to people we care about. I don't know, seemed good at the time. :) We opened gifts and honestly didn't do much, the kids had a few things in their stockings which we do stockings are from Santa and they get mostly religious things. I got the CCC DVD's and Amelia LOVES her St. Bernadette DVD, watches it daily and has even been pretending to make miracles and things. I love it! Then for Ameila's big present we got her the wooden paper dolls from Melissa & Doug, my parents also go that so I need to take it back. She was mostly in love with her candy though so it was good. Landen got the bounce back race car and has been loving every bit of it. Kurt and I got each other our new computer - a Dell, HD wide screen and it's so fast and soft running. I can get things done so fast on it!

We headed to Kurt's parents for Christmas day. It was good to see his brother and his fiance and grandpa. We all exchanged gifts and had lunch. The kids played and then Kurt's Aunt & Uncle came over with their 3 boys. Landen of course loved that and Amelia was right in on the action. It was a good day but just oddly not like most Christmas. Not sure why really.

I was really glad to keep the real meaning of Christmas in our home this year . Oh and I almost forgot my mom has been giving us older kids something on St. Nick's day and she got use more pieces to our Fontani Nativity Set. I absolutely love it. We put it up on the tv cabinet this year with lights and things around it. It looks so nice, makes me want to keep it up all year. I've been thinking about getting some small to put out all year though.. we need more things like that. :-)