I hope your day was as wonderful as mine. We started out opening presents – having children around makes Christmas special! We bought a few little things to fill the girls stockings … and I made hats. Rae modeled all of hers with a smile.

All the hats fit the girls but Mo wasn’t really happy about them being put on her head!

The adults did a sock exchange, with small gifts that were supposed to fit in the sock … I couldn’t let Mo and Rae be only ones not getting socks so I bought them some too.

The socks were all supposed to be Christmas themed but somehow, Chris and Becky both managed to forget that … of course I didn’t mind when I saw that I got two pair … and since I couldn’t choose between them, I wore one of each. The socks are printed with actual photos of Chesty and Finn —aren’t they great?!

After presents, Keith fixed us french toast for brunch … it’s one of our family traditions and it’s always yummy!

We spent the rest of the day enjoying our time together and of course, we had a big holiday meal too.

It means so much to me that we have Christmas with Chris, Becky, and the girls!

For years we’ve continued Keith’s family tradition of an indoor picnic on Christmas Eve.

My guys (with their mouths full)!

It was even cool enough for a small fire!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas!

We waited until the kids got here to decorate the tree – it’s always fun to look at all the ornaments and remember where we got them or who gave them to us. Everyone was moving and all my photos were coming out blurred so I asked them to pose for me!

There was an impromptu bonfire out back and we joined some of our neighbors last night after decorating the tree.

It took a while but they finally got the fire blazing!

I was up early this morning to bake cookies …. I fix 2-3 different kinds each year and Chris insisted he wanted ginger cookies so 3 kinds it is. I cleaned up most of my mess as I went along but Keith finished cleaning up for me. Overall I’m pretty happy with my kitchen but I wish I had a little more counter space.

Although I made the batter for all 3 kinds I just baked the sugar cookies. The others will get baked tomorrow. I had some help sprinkling the toppings.

Chris and Becky have the night off … they left around 3 pm and will stay overnight at a hotel down by the beach so we had lots of entertaining to do …. we read books

Fed baby birds … no trouble getting this one to eat!

Played picnic…

Watched a dance performance …

We were even encouraged to take a selfie with the star of the show!

Both girls were in bed by 7:30, Keith was napping in his chair a half hour later (I’d share of photo of that but he would NOT be happy) — I hope to be in bed and sleeping by 9:30 because everyone will be up earlier than I like!

After I posted my photo of the stockings hanging, I started thinking about Keith wanting his stocking up and I remembered that I had a couple stocking hangers in the Xmas closet that I hadn’t opened (I was looking last year for Mom and bought them but then she found other ones she liked). I couldn’t remember what they looked like or if they would “go” with the raindeer hangers but I decided to dig them out … snowflakes!! And they look good with the other hangers. Keith’s stocking was made by his grandmother and mine was made by my sister Debbie.

I am SOOOO lucky – Keith is always willing to help out and together, we cleaned the entire house and got ready for our company today (he was on PTO and still was willing to grocery shop and clean)

I put up the stockings and a few of my holiday decorations. Keith’s not happy that just Finn’s, Rae’s, and Mo’s stockings are hanging so he might end up hanging his (made by his grandmother) but he’ll have to get another stocking hanger – I doubt he’ll be able to find matching ones.

I also changed out my usual quilts for my red and green ones … I was able to fold my Carolina Lily just right on the quilt rack.

And Mom’s Jewel Box is in the library.

I couldn’t resist buying this shirt for Rae, she’s in kindergarten this year and is having a bit of a challenge adjusting. She knows what behavior is expected but sometimes she doesn’t quite live up to expectations. She’s very focused on telling us how she did in school and whether she had a good day or a not so good day when she talks to us on the phone.