Merry Christmas

From our family to yours, we hope you have a happy and healthy holiday.

This very well may be the last year Mandy and I can convince the kids to wear holiday attire. Bless.

 

 

We'll see you in the New Year!

 

Tree Farm Holiday Village

A friend told us about a cute little Christmas tree farm not too far from us that has a holiday village and lights display basically in the middle of the woods. Since our trip to the zoo lights was a bit of a bust, I got us tickets for the tree farm and we went to check it out last night.

It was SOOOOOOOOOO cute! You ride on a little truck/trailer out into the woods and wander down a winding path with little themed buildings and lights all along the way. We were absolutely frigid but the kids loved running through the village and the whole area was covered in fantastic lights. They had hot chocolate, apple cider, and popcorn to warm-up and lots of places to take cute photos. The lights were comparable to Storybook Land and the animatronics were like Maple Leaf. We had a great time. 

 

 

There was a coal mine (where Santa gets his naughty coal), a post office, train room, igloo, candy cane factory, gingerbread house, wishing well, and more!

They even had a house to visit Santa. There was a long line and since we already saw Santa, the kids were fine with skipping. Kip told me that he could tell who the real Santa was compared to Santa's helpers that come to the malls and shops this time of year and pretend to be him. The real Santa has a real beard and wears glasses, FYI.

 I'm loving this phase where both Kip and Ivy request photos and both look and smile for the camera!

Our only little hiccup was the kids' disappointment at the gift shop selection. We really have created a really awful precedent and expectation around gift shops. Eventually we left with just cider donuts and gummy candy for Ivy. That's a real win considering Kip was on the verge when I told him I wasn't going to buy a $55 stuffed polar bear. 

We ate dinner in the car to warm-up. Both the kids love the novelty of dinner in the car, even when it's just sandwiches. The drive back was festive as well with all the lights on houses along the way. Bonus, a late bedtime resulted in both kids sleeping in a little this morning which is SO rare around here.

Early Christmas

Yesterday we celebrated "Early Christmas" which is when we pretend it's Christmas morning and open all the presents that are not coming with us to actual Christmas if we are traveling that year. Part of the reason we do Early Christmas is because we cannot travel with a huge quantity of gifts. But also, it spreads out the gifts over multiple days. This allows the kids (and adults) to focus better on the gift and the giver and not getting lost in excess (although I totally acknowledge, the excess is real). 

This was the first year we've done a genuine Early Christmas with basically everything you'd traditionally do on Christmas (Santa, stockings, special breakfast, etc). There is a certain amount of extra effort in pulling it off with kids, but it was worth it and SO FUN. It really felt like Christmas. Kip and Ivy were both really excited by the whole event and the best part is that little let down you feel at the end of Christmas wasn't really the end...we still have real Christmas next week!!!

On Saturday afternoon we took the kids to Five Below for them to each pick presents for each other. This was the first year we've done that and they did such an awesome job finding gifts for each other. There was PTO fundraiser happening at the same time so a percentage of our purchase went back to Kip's school.

The kids wrapped their presents to each other and put them under the tree. Kip added some other gifts that he bought at his school holiday fair. 

Then we set out our plate of cookies for Santa. We asked Mrs. Claus at Storybook Land what Santa liked best and she said chocolate chip. So we got him two big cookies from Panera. We also filled a bowl of carrots for the reindeer and left a small piece of cheese for Santa Mouse (have you read that sweet book?). The kids spiced-up the display with some of their "friends" and a high chair for Santa Mouse.

After the kids were asleep, we played Santa and brought all the gifts out and stuffed the stockings. These are Santa gifts as well as gifts from us, Poppa, Mandy, and my uncle Greg. The kids also get gifts from Dan's boss, "Uncle Joey" who like his gifts to come from Santa. That's why their Santa piles are so big. 

The next morning we gleefully came downstairs to presents spilling out from under the tree and a note from Santa.

For Mandy and I, it felt just like the Christmas mornings we remembered. Kip told Dan later that night that he loved being in the room filling-up with shredded wrapping paper and still more presents to open. That was his favorite part of the day (not a specific gift or toy but a moment that will surely be a memory). 

Mandy made her scones which is a Christmas morning exclusive (she never makes them any other time)! We lounged around in our PJs until late morning, moving from toy to toy and listening to Christmas music.

This is a funny little side story. Poppa got Ivy the Pretty Pretty Princess game (unicorn version) and in that game the crown passes from player to player depending on when you land on it. So Kip landed on the crown and I had to take it from Ivy to put on Kip. She was outraged and launched her tiny body to get it back. Dan had to restrain here and then she promptly quit the game.

Lololol. That's a three year old for ya.

We eventually got around for the day and since it wasn't real Christmas, everything was open for business so we went out for a special lunch at the Mexican restaurant we went to with Poppa and Jagee when they were here for Thanksgiving. 

And then back home for an afternoon of playing.

 

I'll be honest, it was extra hard to get up this morning with a full week of work and school ahead of break, but at least we still have lots to look forward to next week.

Merry Monday!