Merry Christmas!

Sometimes things go just as planned...and sometimes they don't.  The good news about it is that as long as you are with your sweet family then that is all that matters! We had a very happy Christmas around here! We were VERY blessed to have family around and two happy children that have LOVED spending days at home just playing.  After a VERY busy December, we have loved every minute of being at home just playing together.  As I am typing (and saying a small prayer nothing gets broken) the kiddos are laughing hysterically over a $1.00 jump rope that Santa left in Jack's stocking! It's the little things!
I finally got done with a crazy week of work around 9 pm on Thursday... Steven finished up a little early on Friday! We were finally on vacation! It had been a crazy week to say the least. Work was insane for both of us and BOTH kids had the flu!! Are you serious? They both had gotten the flu mist the week before. SO..not sure what my final thoughts are on them getting the actual flu, but luckily it was very mild and short lived. Both had a fever on Tuesday and then that was it.  Lucy was still a little congested, but by Wednesday they were bouncing off the walls. We kept them home the whole week from school just to not infect anyone else and hopefully keep us from getting anything else!  We had a fun Friday baking cookies, meeting friends for pizza and making Smores!!!

Who is excited about baking cookies?! ME!!!!!

Taking turns adding the ingredients

Helping make treats

This is how we do it around here... Santa pants, gold beads, pirate hat, Indian vest and some legos!

What? Does this not match?

Happy kiddos! We went to look at Christmas lights and made Smores!

Dance party!

Yay!!!

Waiting on her Smore!

Yes...that is Lucy's pink hat on Will!

Yummy!!!!

By Saturday evening, I started fading into some sort of cold.  At least my body waited until the week was over! Ha! Fortunately I started feeling better Christmas Eve afternoon.  We made it through the entire Fall without being sick. We have spent the last 12 days passing things back and forth! But I think everyone is better and hopefully we are past all of that!
While Christmas Eve started out pretty rough (or maybe just in my mind.. the kids don't seem to notice when all the plans in my head aren't playing out exactly right!), the evening was so wonderful! We got everything cooked, decorated cookies, got in Christmas pj's, read Twas the Night Before Christmas, and left out our cookies and treats for Santa and the reindeer. The kids went right to sleep and were super excited. Jack got very teary saying goodbye to Edward Elf. He really enjoyed him this season. The adults had a very nice dinner in the dining room. Granny, Steven, Grandbubba and I had filet, sauteed brussel sprouts, onion rice and good wine! It was a really really happy evening!

Baking more cookies!

Lucy was such a good helper!

Decorating the cookies!

Lucy put lots of candy on hers!

Jack concentrating on his decorating

Granny came to help out (and get a bite!)

Daddy reading Twas the Night Before Christmas

Jack bringing in the plate for Santa

Look! A banana for the reindeer!

Babies!

Sweet Dreams

Visions of Sugar Plums!

Santa came to visit our house that evening... Lucy woke up first at 6:30am! That is early for that little girl! She was standing in her crib literally screaming, "Daddy! Daddy! Get me out!!! PLEASE!!!!!" We went and got her and brought her to our room to play while we waited on Jack to get up! Both kids were so excited and of course we made them wait out those LONG couple of minutes while Granny and I got downstairs and got the camera ready! They came downstairs and were so excited to see Santa came to visit! Jack couldnt believe that Santa drank all of his milk, took bites out of each cookie...and the reindeer ate part of their celery and banana!!!! Lucy went straight to her Elmo slippers and then played with her new baby bed all morning. She had some interesting ideas on how to put the baby to sleep...even under the bed in the cabinet! Jack loved all of his new stuff too! After we had made some monkey bread (Lucy helped with every single piece! She is quite the helper these days!) we found a note from Santa that said we should go outside to see a surprise! We got on some coats (and Elmo slippers) and went outside to see that Santa left a BIG jumpy house in our backyard!!!! Quite exciting!!! The kids loved it! We played inside and out the whole morning. We ate WAY too much monkey bread and then had a big lunch shortly after noon! It was a really happy day! We had Nunno, Poppa, Grandbubba, and Granny all here with us to celebrate!

Waiting to go downstairs to see if Santa came!!!

That is excitement!

He came! He came!

Jack rounding the corner!

Lucy right behind!

Look at my new baby bed!

Santa said there is something outside!!!!

Happy babies!

Jack got a new coat!

Spiderman's Web Slinger glove... the webs were gone in less than 2 minutes! The whole yard was covered in webs!

Daddy and his YUMMY turkey!

Jumpy House!

Too fun!

Poppa and Nunno with their babies!

and Granny too!

After some much needed naps, we got up and played with all of our new toys and ate leftovers! It was truly a perfect Leonard Christmas! Granny, Steven and I stayed up to watch Christmas Vacation after the little ones were sleeping! What a fun night!

Cinderella dress, Elmo slippers, one Spiderman glove and one Snow White glove

Love it!

Daddy snuggling with his babies!

Grandbubba reading with the princess!

Happy girl on Christmas night!

It was such a happy Christmas! Crazy work, illnesses, house guests and all! We are thankful everyday for the family and friends in our lives! It's a nice time to slow down and think about what matters most!