This year, Brenton and I had a great time with our co-workers at our company parties. Mine, was at my bosses house and it was so nice, calm, and laid back. My whole family went and we had a nice evening. Brenton and I attended his, the next evening, and had a really nice evening together. It's always a great event, just a long one. It was his 15 year recognition year, so he received extra and it was important to go and be there for him. Brenton's parents kept the boys for us, so we woke up the next morning (Saturday) and went to enjoy our gift to each other and that is always a "date" day.
While the boys were with my in-laws, they took them to Cambridge to see the Charles Dickens Christmas display and also the lights. The boys loved it.....
After the fun weekend, it was the last week at school before break and I had 2 happy boys. We were in countdown mode and we made it....
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| Last day, dressed in Christmas shirts to celebrate |
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| teacher gifts ready to go |
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| Colin made us gifts |
From the moment the boys stepped off the school bus on Friday, we had stuff planned. The way Christmas fell this year there was something every day until the following Thursday. So, we went with it and enjoyed every moment. Brenton's parents have chosen to do Christmas at their house, usually the Saturday or Sunday, before Christmas and this year Sunday was chosen. So, we headed there and enjoyed the afternoon with the family. The kids played, while the adults talked and we had good food to enjoy, as well....
Since, Christmas Eve was no longer a day that we celebrated with family, we decided it would be a day that our own little family would celebrate together. Brenton and Ethan headed off to services at the church, while Colin and I watched online and when they returned we relaxed a bit and then had our traditional dinner. This year, we decided to have a "fun" dinner and our theme was The Grinch. We had such a fun evening together and after dinner the boys headed off to bed anticipating the Big Guy's arrival.....
And, finally, the day that all kids wait for each year was upon us. Our tradition here, is we have a "Christmas Campout" in dad & mom's room and that means that when the kids are up, so am I. This year, like every year before, Ethan woke us all up at 3am. I get it, the excitement is real, so I don't fight it! Everyone was in good spirits and ready to head downstairs to see what the Big Guy brought.....
Colin made me super emotional this year! This was the first year that he enjoyed the whole process and opened EVERY single one of his gifts. He smiled and just had a great morning! I loved it!! Ethan, was the sweetest, because his favorite thing was, "being a family." No joke, that's what he said without any hesitation. I'm sure his new phone and Galaxy buds came in close 2nd, but still he just was the sweetest all morning. After we got the gifts opened, I started the oven and cooked our traditional Christmas morning sweet rolls and casserole. It was a great morning and before we headed off to my parents, we had some time to relax for a bit and watch a showing of the Christmas Story.
However, before we knew it, we found ourselves in Sugarcreek with my family and getting in our last celebration of the Christmas season. It was a great day!
It was hard to believe, I guess it happens every year and I probably say the same thing, BUT it came and went so fast! I found myself not bumming this year though. I wasn't super happy, but I certainly did have a calmness that was over me that it was over. I'm not sure why, but I did. I absolutely loved the whole month and every moment we were in celebrating the season yet I was ok that it was done. Now, my boys, not so much! LOL! However, we still had over a week left in break and New Year's coming, so I think that helped their moods. Brenton had to head to work on Friday, so he decided to take Ethan in for a bit to help him. Ethan, loves to work and he was in heaven. Daddy made him work, too! Ethan had to clean and scrub different things, but he was happy to do it and he never complained one time....
It was a great Christmas season and 2019 was a great year for us, as well. As we reminisced and talked about the year, we found New Year's Eve was quickly approaching and we still had yet to solidify any plans with anyone. I have to be honest and say, the whole month of December comes crashing down on December 31st for me. I'm exhausted and not wanting to do anything, but be home for New Year's Eve. I try so hard to visit with friends and family, but the terrible truth is all the jolly is gone from me by then. The older I get, I don't even fight it. This year, my mom was working late and my dad ended up making lots of food that we decided to head to Sugarcreek to have dinner with them. My dad made the traditional meal for the New Year of pork & sauerkraut...it was so good! After dinner, we headed home and were home by 10 to get comfy to watch the ball drop at midnight. It was the perfect way to end the year and just be with my little family celebrating!
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| emptying our memory jar & starting off 2020 |
Overall, our Christmas break was amazing! I loved every ounce of it and enjoyed being off with my boys. It's the perfect time of year to reflect and take in each and every moment. As we looked back on 2019 and remembered those moments, we are super excited to see what 2020 has in store for us. We filled out our sheets and placed them in our jar to start the year. Colin was holding on as long as he could and was serenading us on his new karaoke machine, it was so sweet. Jingle Bells is his favorite, so what else would he sing to hold onto the moment....LOL! Anyway, it was a great break and I'm praying that 2020 will be a good year and one for us to flourish! Happy New Year! ♥
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