Christmas 2015

Amazing.

That is the one word that most accurately describes our first Christmas as a whole family.  It was simply amazing.

Avaleigh, your eyes lit up when you say all the presents that Santa brought you.  When we were at your grandparents’ homes opening gifts, you insisted on opening every gift…even if it wasn’t for you.  You probably got bit by the Christmas bug today.

Lindley, you aren’t big enough to get it, yet.  But you still were in awe of what was going on around you.  I could try to put it into words, but it wouldn’t do any good.  Hopefully, pictures will help.

The one thing I couldn’t get over was how good y’all were.  We started going full speed on the 23rd at around 8:00 p.m. and didn’t stop until about 9:00 p.m. on Christmas Night.  Never once did y’all throw a fit!  Not once!

I wish you could see how much of a blessing you were for everyone!  They just loved and hugged all over you…but especially your cousins.  Jake, Trevor, and Callie just can’t get enough of y’all.  Mathew would try, but each time he gets close Avaleigh throws starts crying.

So, what did I learn about Christmas this year…..

1.  Be very intentional about how you spend each weekend during the Christmas season.  They will slip away from you before you know it.  We need to go on excursions as a family, we need to plan some things to do so that we don’t look back at the end and ask ourselves where did Christmas go?
2. Take everything out of the box before Christmas.  I’m way too tired after it to clean up and we made one hell of a mess today!
3. Wrap well in advance!
4. Buy everything in a timely manner and take care of #3.
5. Plan stockings and Elf ahead of time.
6. Get decorations out no later than Thanksgiving break!
7. Cook everything on the 23rd of December.  Freeze it or store it in the fridge.  DO NOTHING ON CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS BUT ENJOY FAMILY.
8. Lay your clothes out (all of us)  on the 23rd.  Plan bathes, etc.
9. Sit down each Sunday night and look at the TV calendar, circle the things you want to watch.

Most importantly, I learned to slow down.  I’ve got 16 more of these with Avaleigh at home, 17 more with Lindley.  I’ve got to do a better job of making these special for all of us.

I love you.  I enjoyed spending today with you.  But I learned that gifts are cool and fun, but the memories are what I’m chasing.  I’ve got to be better organized if I am going to be able to do that.