For me, Christmas preparations begin the day after Christmas each year. I start looking around for little things to buy for the next Christmas celebration.
Sometimes I actually make it until the next Christmas, but quite often I give these little gifts to the person during the year, when they need a little boost.
This year I was all done shopping a month before the actual day. Which was good because Jack kept imploring me to STOP with the credit card! LOL!
Christmas Day dawned bright, and we actually made it out of here on schedule and arrived 15 minutes before we planned. Christmas 2018’s drive was so much easier than Christmas 2017, as it was beautiful and clear, instead of snowy and stormy!
I always feel like a little kid when we are driving down. “Are we there yet?” And so it was with this drive as we headed to the controlled chaos of Christmas morning!
The kids had opened their stockings (the size of Big Foots!) but everything else they had waited to open with us. We piled in, unloaded the presents (That took three trips) and then settled in for Mimosas! (I was happy about this, as I have a very painful tooth that will need attention tomorrow!)
Soon breakfast was done and cleaned up and we all headed to the family room to open presents!
Yes, there were an amazing number of gifts, but then there were a lot of us too. So, in the end, it all worked out.
A few months ago, Savannah mentioned to me that her American Girl Doll was lonely and had no playmates! Savi has never really asked me for anything before, so I found the doll she liked and I got it for her. I also hunted down a bunch of clothes that fit the two dolls and this was Savi’s big gift this year.
After she opened up the new doll, she picked up her other much loved American Girl Doll and held them in a tight cuddle together!
I was just thrilled. I always loved my dolls growing up, and I was happy to see Savannah also enjoying them!
Quinn kept busy opening all sorts of things. He loved the opening process so much, even when it wasn’t his gift! LOL! He was a great helper with this!
In so many ways, Quinn presented us all with the true spirit of a kids Christmas. Amazement and wonder at all he saw and experienced!
My darling Savannah was so sweet, and cuddly too and we played let’s get the selfie until we had a good one.
The table was laid with Mandy’s beautiful dishes, filled with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, carrot casserole, and butternut squash. All wonderful!
After dinner we sat around the remnants of wrapping, watching the kids play until everyone started to go their own way.
Christmas was over for another year! How was that possible. Everything went so fast!
Jack and I drove home, in almost record time. I came in, talked to my sister, made Jack a bowl of soup and then went to bed. I felt like the little kid who woke before dawn with the excitement of the day ahead of them, and then came crashing down to earth, like the older lady that I am.
It truly was a wonderful Christmas!
Maribeth
Great memories for you. Much as we love these family events, they are pretty exhausting.
It all sounds so wonderful!! Love the photos and just know the memories are already established in hearts and minds!