The Season is Upon Us

Christmas is here.  All the festivities begin at our house tonight.

We have a family tradition that was carried over from my house growing up.  Tonight we will pack up the kids and go out to look at Christmas lights.  We spend about an hour (that's as long as the kids can handle it) driving around town to see the Christmas lights and listen to Christmas music.  Then we come home and have what our family refers to as "snacky dinner".  Veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, and tonight I am making a caprese pizza.  Then we pull out all the cookies and eat a bunch of those, too.  All while watching "The Polar Express."

After the kids go to bed, Chuck and I are in for a marathon wrapping session.  We haven't wrapped a single thing.  But, with a little help from "It's a Wonderful Life" or "White Christmas", we will get it done.

Tomorrow we have Christmas Eve with my grandparents.  It is a crazy time, but I love it.  It is so great to see everyone that we don't get to see very often.  Then we have Mass at 10:00.  I don't really like going so late with the kids, but there really isn't too many options.  We won't be done to make it to the 5:00 Mass, and I am not really willing to pull the kids away from their gifts on Christmas morning to make it to Mass.

Christmas morning will be early, I highly doubt the kids will sleep past 6:00.  I am going to do my best to hold them off until 7:00.  After ripping and tearing and squeals of joy, I have fabulous breakfast planned.  Then we pack up and head to Detroit to visit the fam.  Another wonderful time to see family we don't get to see very often.  The sadness this year is that the kids won't see Granny.  She is in North Carolina.  We are all sad that she won't be with us this year.

Then to my parents Christmas night for a huge family sleep over.  It's kind of amazing there is a place for all of us, we keep multiplying.  But the day after Christmas we have another Christmas morning, Christmas breakfast, and Christmas dinner.  It's nice to lounge without anywhere to go.  And my sister is coming home from California today, so she will be there and that will make it complete.

Once we are home on the evening of the 26th, our dining room becomes a toy store.  The kids will love playing with their gifts and relaxing in the remaining days of break.


I hope that everyone has a very Merry Christmas!