Christmas 2018 is in the
books and I thought I’d pop in and recap really quickly while it’s still fresh
in my mind. We woke up Christmas Eve
morning to our elf, Cheek, putting together a puzzle in the living room. The kids thought this was one of the coolest
things he’s done yet. And all day long
when they weren’t looking, he would build a little more. ;o)
We started the morning out
with donuts for breakfast and then I was in the kitchen all morning chugging coffee in my Jolly AF Christmas mug and baking and
cooking for Christmas Eve dinner while the kiddos and B watched more Christmas
TV specials.
We went to Christmas Eve
mass at 4, as always, because that is the children’s mass. We arrived really early as always since it
gets so packed in there, and once we had our seats, we went back out to the
commons area to snap a few family photos in front of the Christmas trees.
While we were out there,
Father Robert came out and asked Jacob and Olivia if they wanted to do the
honor of carrying Baby Jesus down and placing him in the manger at the start of
the mass. My heart did a little
flip-flop with nerves because – HUGE responsibility in front of a good 800-900
people – and it also swelled about ten times its normal size because I was just
so honored that they had been chosen with such a special task.
The kids quickly agreed that
they would love to do it, so Father Robert walked them through their steps and
what they needed to know, and then we headed back to wait with the altar
servers before it was time to go.
I stayed with the kids the
entire time until it was their turn to walk down the aisle, and then I hung
back at the back of the church while they went in with the processional. They both did so wonderfully… Olivia carried
Baby Jesus all the way down the aisle, handed him over to Jacob, and then Jacob
placed him gently in the manger at the front of the church. Father Robert had asked both of them to kneel
down and say a little prayer after Jesus was placed in the manger, and both of
them did. Olivia’s prayer lasted a
loooong time and apparently she really touched (and cracked up) a lot of the people
in the church. They were both escorted
back to their seats by one of the altar servers and then we proceeded with mass
as usual.
After church, lots of people
came up to us to tell us how touched they were and how well Jacob and Olivia
did. Several people said that they had
tears in their eyes because it was just so precious and I had to agree as I
cried like a baby the whole time I watched, too. It will forever go down as my favorite mass
of all time. I thought my heart might
just burst. What an extra special Christmas
gift!
After mass, we headed home,
scooped up all of our gifts, drinks, dishes, pajamas, and everything else we
needed, and then we headed to my parents house for my favorite four hours of
the entire year! We had a house full –
my Momma, Daddy, two brothers, sis-in-law, niece and nephew, uncle,
father-in-law, and then B, myself, and our two kiddos. Whew.
We had our usual spread of
ham, dressing, mac n cheese, green beans, sweet potato soufflé, and all of the other
fixings, and I mixed up some Winter White Cosmos for all of the ladies while
the guys drank wine. After dinner, Momma
and I cleaned up and then we all opened presents. The kids then put on their jammies and we
fired up Home Alone as we always do. There
was coffee and dessert around 10 and then it was time to call it a very late
night.
When we got home, we left
cookies for Santa, said our goodbyes to Cheek (who had finished the puzzle!)
and went straight up to bed. Olivia was
asleep by the time I had blinked, but Jacob took a little longer to fall asleep
this year, his anticipation of Santa taking over his exhaustion from staying up
so late. Once they were asleep, B and I
turned on a Christmas movie and got to work, but fortunately this year we were
in bed by 12:30… a new record!
Both kids were so exhausted
the next morning that B and I were up before they were (we had set an alarm so
we didn’t all sleep the day away) and as we were heading out to wake the kids,
Olivia came bounding in our room on her own.
We let her wake Jacob, and then it was time to head downstairs to see
what Santa brought!
The kids both loved their
gifts. They opened stockings, and then
once all of the Santa gifts had been pored over, they opened their gifts from
us – a scooter and a new car and track for Jacob, and a jewelry box with a real
necklace (per her request) and real makeup (that she won’t be wearing in
public) for Olivia.
B and I opened our gifts
from each other and then it was time for Olivia's Hatchimal to start hatching. We all gathered around and watched that thing peck its way out. Lol. The things these toy companies come up with these days!!
Afterward, it was time for me to start preparing for
breakfast. The same crowd from the night
before came over for breakfast casserole, donuts, apple fritter bread, and
pancakes, and then once breakfast was over they all headed back home. We all sat around played for the rest of the
day and assisted Olivia with her new makeup, and B and I both squeezed in little cat naps as well while the Christmas tunes
played full force in the background all day.
Around 4 it was time for me
to bake my pineapple casserole for our gathering later in the day, and then it
was time to get ready and head out to my aunt and uncle’s to get together with
my mom’s entire side of the family.
We feasted and drank once
again, and we all hung out all evening.
My cousins from Colorado and Cali were both in town
with their babies, so all of the second cousins gathered down in the basement
to play and burn all of their energy.
My cousins and I are all
spread out across the United States
– Colorado, California,
Texas, Georgia, etc. so Christmas Day is the
only day each year that we’re all together.
Since we were all there, my mom and aunts snapped some pictures of all
of us with our Mama Cass (grandmother).
So crazy that all twelve of us are here because of she and my
grandfather!
We also snapped a few
pictures of my Mama Cass and all of her children (my mom and aunts and
uncles). One of my uncles was not there,
though.
We headed home around 9 and
both kids were exhausted once again by the time we got home. B and I got them in the bed and then watched
the end of The Grinch before calling it a night ourselves.
Another amazing Christmas Eve
and Christmas Day are over, but we are excited because we still have two more Christmas
celebrations next weekend with Brian’s family!!!!
I hope you all enjoyed your
holidays!
