Cookies With Grandma

My mom does cookies with the grandkids each year for Christmas. This year we did it after Christmas so that my sister and neices could be here for it. The kids had so much fun and brought home alot of cookies. Even some of the adults got creative and made some fun cookies.

Christmas Day

Two weeks later...

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. I got up earlier than I wanted, but since it was to talk to my little brother from Hawaii, it was worth it. When I got home, the girls were awake and looking through their stockings. The rule is they can do that as soon as they wake up, but we do presents all together.

Don got up right after that and we headed to the tree to open presents. A few years ago we started doing "Something to play with, something you need, something to wear, something to read" for everyone. It has kept things simple and we love it. Britton really got into it and was fun to watch.

After presents, we do a big breakfast with special pancakes, strawberries and whipped cream, bacon, and sausage. Then I'm finished cooking for the day! We spent a very lazy day hanging out, playing games, snacking, and watching a movie. I even got a nap in. It's one of my favorite days of the year.

Christmas Eve

Yes, I realize that I'm behind, but I figured better late than never...

We have a wonderful family tradition of having a big dinner on Christmas Eve with my family followed by a program where we sing Christmas songs and read Christmas stories, including the original one in the New Testament.

Afterwards, we went home to participate in another Christmas Eve tradition; opening one present. Of course, it's always p.j.'s. Britton got so excited for his.

Gingerbread Houses

Okay, so they're not really gingerbread, but graham crackers count, right? This year I got ambitious and made royal icing, though, and it worked so much better. We had a great time being creative and laughing and sneaking candy. Britton was the best at that.

Here is our Christmas Village - Don's, Maddy's, Emma's, mine, Kenzie's, and Syd's. (Her decorating "bag" exploded all over her hands so she made a winter wonderland)