Geesh Katie, it’s halfway through January. Get off Christmas’ back.
Well I would but then the grandparents might kill me if they don’t get to see these photos.
No joke.
They would pack up their weaponry, pray for no traffic, and slaughter me in my back yard. And then they would feel really really bad about it. And there would be no more future posting. As appealing as that sounds, please have patience with me as I keep them from committing a heinous crime. See that? You are a hero 🙂
This year we met Santa at our favorite spot. We always go to the same outdoor mall and wait in line to see Santa and ride in the horse drawn carriage.
Will tends to be my stoic and serious one. He goes silly willy nilly at home but with other folks, it is straight face and all business.
At least that kid is consistent. Here are every year of Will with Santa. I’m bummed that it’s a different Jolly St. Nick…first world problems.
We couldn’t even peel Weston off of us to get him near dear ole Kris Kringle so there isn’t a solo photo with him.
Here’s last years because I don’t think I ever shared it…
Yup. We are those parents.
And these ones….
This is the closest we could get with Weston. I imagine he is thinking “MY BACK IS TOUCHING HIM! GET ME AWAY FROM HERE!” I guess you win some and lose some. I will say that I think that Santa has mastered that whole what-do-I-do-I’m-innocent face.
We also hit up Stone Mountain this year to see their light display and take a ride on the caroling train. This was our second year to do that and I must say….totally awesome.
They do an awesome job of covering every square foot with lights. Next year we will try to go earlier because we didn’t get to see the 4D movie and roast marshmallows….both of the boys would have probably loved that.
If you ever want to go to the Stone Mountain thing, it is a lot more stroller friendly than the Rock City display was with less cliffs and caverns and overall danger. And they seem to have more lights in a smaller area.
I’m hoping that this year we get snow again but if not, I think we will probably end up taking the boys to Snow Mountain. It’s expensive and I have a feeling they will want to do it for like ten minutes before saying “All done!” but it’s one of those weird things that I want the boys to learn to do. I guess it’s because my family is from up north. I remember seeing snow on the back porch, daring little Timmy to go out barefoot and then locking him out there. I want that for my boys….the joy of freezing your brother to the point of tears.
After Santa and Stone Mountain, we visited family and did our Christmas’ with them. Then when we headed home from Chattanooga, we drove straight to church for their candlelight service. Will was supposed to be in a group that sang but we missed it literally by two minutes. We were running in while they were coming off the stage. Enter my frustrated face here. I blame Arbys. We stopped there for lunch and if only their toilet paper thing was functioning correctly we would have been on time.
The boys were crying right before this photo….like all three of them were in full melt-down. Christmas miracle.
On the way home, we stopped at the post office and I cried. I thought that when I suggested to y’all that you send any extra christmas cards that I might get half a dozen….maybe nine if I were lucky.
The boys and I had a great time opening them and reading all about you and your dogs and your babies and your grand babies and your homes and EVERYTHING. Will’s favorite was when there were other four year old boys or pictures of alligators or batman stickers or baby bottoms. Weston loved the doggie cards. He barked at every single one.
We hung them all up and I just want to say….Thank you. Thank you so much for your notes and your words of encouragement. I sometimes think that I write and put up photos of my projects and my kids and it can be super annoying and you taught me something. You like doing the same thing! No matter if you are half way around the world, you are so in love with your family and you want to improve your homes and you cherish the same little milestones and accomplishments and things as me. I’m glad we found each other. Your family is beautiful. Your life is so cool. You gave me the best Christmas gift….thank you.
Moving right along….
On Christmas morning, we settled in around 9am to our traditional Christmas Waffles-by-Jeremy breakfast. Jeremy has been practicing this year with the waffle maker and different mixes and I must say….these are totally edible and incredibly delish. He’s come a long way!
The boys were WORE OUT….like think, on the verge of sleeping/coughing/snotting up that rug. I think it was pure adrenaline about presents that kept them up.
My Christmas wrapping this year included throwing a blanket over things. Pin that 🙂
Will declared that he got ‘cool shoes’ from Santa….put them on over his jammies and jumped up and down repeatedly to show how awesome they are.
We made them wait on the big gifts….not that there was much waiting….it was like five minutes of unwrapping new clothing, new helmets and then BAM…time to do the big gifts 🙂
Will was THRILLED with the new bike. He’s been on his balance bike for two years now and I kid you not….we took him outside on his new pedal bike (NO training wheels) and he just did it. Jeremy kinda teared up because he thought he would get to do that whole run-along-side thing and nope….Will pushed the pedals like he had been doing it his whole life. He even would ring the bell and use the hand brakes. CRAZY.
Weston got a new four-wheeler. It’s already the most fought over toy in our house. We already have two other power wheel type vehicles – a truck and a tractor – and they both need new tires because the boys have worn holes in them….giant grass-tearing holes.
My mom and dad also opened their little gifts…
As did Jeremy and I. I was really surprised by what Jeremy got me….but now I practically live in my new zip-up jacket and I can’t wait to use my new light kit.
Overall, it was a good time.
We packed up the kids to take them to my sister’s for lunch….the boys opened their gifts from Boots & Norn….Monster Jam tickets! They were equally excited about new monster truck toys 🙂
It was good. Low key. We watched Frozen on repeat. Then I fell asleep.
It was one of those sweet, quiet and slow-moving evenings…the type you don’t really talk about but you know you enjoyed anyway.
Will has discovered the joys of Legos. I know that this is the beginning of a whole new foot-pain adventure for us.
Cole has an epic collection….and I think I’ll be ready for that in ten years. Right now, I am glad he can be completely satisfied with the $6 kits.
It was good. It was sweet. It was definitely one I loved. We celebrated Christmas with the rest of my family the weekend after New Years…so that means our Christmas gift-giving-toy-opening lasted for about three weeks. Whew! I’m ready to pack it up after that long. I didn’t take any pictures of my family…..I was sick….I thought my head was splitting in two from a cold….and now I wish I did snap a photo or two. My little brother got engaged. That’s right…Hot Tim is off the market! My dad gave everyone these remote control helicopters and I got him a balloon helicopter as a joke. I don’t know who had more fun…he definitely was more light headed 🙂 And my mom cooked enough food to feed a small army. The perfect recipe for a very merry Christmas.
OMG Katie! That picture of LJ on Santa lamp made me spit out me coffee. Hilarious! You should have used that for your Christmas card for sure.
We totally got my mother a magnified glass too! lol
Wow! That is a serious wall of cards! How fun! (I found our right away in the stack of un opened ones… It’s has the swirls on it!) it looks like you had a fantastic Christmas! It’s great that you take pictures, I wish we took more as I always struggle with capturing the moment and being in the moment since I’m the only one who takes pic in our family.
It looks like you had a wonderful time. My oldest is the same as yours. She is all serious in public and a goof at home. I have to say you guys look cheery and camera ready. I am a mess on Christmas morning, sometimes I brush my hair :/. I am not sure if you have ever talked about this before but I noticed that massive map in the background. Where did you find it? I have plans for a big map with great color for my stairway. Just wondering where to even start looking for maps that size.
“My Christmas wrapping this year included throwing a blanket over things. Pin that” — Best Line EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the expressions LJ has! Ps I spy our Christmas card! I wish we had a fun lights show like that here!
Katie,
I seem to remember you saying that you were going to volunteer at a soup kitchen this year and tone down Christmas so that Will could understand more about the season (you mentioned you used to do something like that as a kid). I was just wondering if this is something you did and didn’t blog about. I’d like to know your experience so that I can do something similar when my kids are old enough.
Thanks,
Marisa
“No matter if you are half way around the world, you are so in love with your family and you want to improve your homes and you cherish the same little milestones and accomplishments and things as me.” Well stated. And the Card wall was pretty sweet.
What a Merry Christmas! Thanks for sharing. : )
Aw this almost makes me miss christmas. Almost. Once it’s over I really love to take everything down and be done. Maybe it’s because winter is Wisconsin is just getting started and the cold really sets in, I don’t know, but I don’t miss it one bit! Thanks for the post! Congrats to Tim! What cools gifts everyone got! You didn’t mention what LJ got for his big gift? Hope you’re enjoying the new year, Katie!
Oh and so cool that you got so many cards! I actually spotted mine in the very top row towards the right. So fun!
That sounds like a wonderful Christmas! I can’t get over that about Will and the bike — that is AMAZING!!!
I am happy that my 5 year old is JUUUSTT getting into Lego’s as well — I can’t wait to hear about storage for them….they are already driving me crazy, and we just bought 1 of those 1000 piece sets!! So, please tell how your sister is keeping them corralled!!
Toilet paper made you late, blanket gift wrap..pin it! and barefoot brother in the snow….you are Hil.lar.i.ous.!!!! Those pictures with the boys with Santa are precious with or without the tears. All wonderful memories for the them. Thanks for sharing!
I see my handmade card on your wall, squeeee! 🙂
She used those latched lids with bins. It seems to work although there are some folks that swear to organizing them by colors is the way to go.
xo kb
Oh yes! He got that little blue push wagon (it’s from ikea and in the background of one picture) and a bunch of little stuff. We also saved a bunch of baby toys till now to break out of storage…although they aren’t new, he still loves them 🙂
xo kb
We wanted to but our church didn’t have their feeding event until we were gone so Will helped me get some food at the store instead. We made the list together, went shopping and dropped it off…I think he understood but I do still want to do this (maybe when the boys get older so that we aren’t just babysitting but actually able to serve).
xo kb
That long series of sober/screaming Santa shots cracked me up. How old was Will when you started him on a balance bike (and do you have any brand/type recommendations?). Our twins are 2 years and 3 months right now. They have toddler trikes, but I was wondering when to move them up.
i see my card made the wall! I spotted it right away! (The newlywed card with the red car). I made my husband try and spot it but he couldn’t. Lol! :0)
I loved this post! Wait until you have a big kid who loves to put his finished Legos on display! I’m still figuring out how to make that fit my decor 🙂 I’m taking suggestions!
We always take our kids to the Avenues to see Santa, too! In fact, I have almost identical photos as you bc our kids are all about the same age. How funny!
We started him at age two and we have the Strider classic. He actually use to ride it around the house before he got really fast and then we made him only do it outside. We go on “bike rides” with him where he gets to ride on the road and he finally got a little too tall and we decided it was time to give him a chance. I was shocked. They say if you can help it, avoid the training wheels all together and I am super surprised that it worked.
xo – kb
The light displays near you look so cool. Someday I’d love to see it. We have Longwood Gardens in Pa. But somehow yours looks even cooler!
Made my daughter so happy to see our family photo card at the top of your wall! Well done! Looks like your Christmas was a Jolly one. Have a super-blessed new year.
WHERE did you see Santa last year? I swear he’s the same as the one we always saw in Middle Georgia, but he disappeared one year and we had no idea where he went! And I’m with you – I prefer a consistent Santa in our pictures, but that has long been ruined.
We spent 2 full days organizing by color into a 10 drawer tower on wheels. My 6 year old helped separate them and we really had fun doing it together. Now that they are organized he LOVES them and plays with them so much more. I love it too!
We saw all the Santas at the Shoppes at Webb Ginn. They switch the santas out apparently!
xo – kb
I have two really big maps and one I got on ebay and the other I scored at a local antiques shop.
xo – kb
Oh my word – Santa’s face in the solo pic with LJ had me ROLLING! So stinking hysterical. I looooved hearing about your Christmas! And although I rarely comment (I PROMISE to try to change that this year) I am an avid reader. Cannot get enough of pretty much any of your posts (house, projects, kiddos, fashion pics, basically any flavor of randomosity), so if you ever doubt what you’re doing or think it’s what you referred to as “super annoying” – Just… just stop. Eat a snack filled with some kind of bacon flavoring and and/or a dash of chocolate and just cut… it… out. Straight on Full House style. Because you rock my blogging’ socks. And if I lived even remotely near you, I’m pretty convinced that we’d be besties in no time flat. Unfortunately, Texas is a BIT of a leap and puts me out of the running for Friday Night netflix dates, but as long as I have your blog and the illusion that we are friends in real life… I’m golden. And don’t you forget it! 😛
Katie! Lovely pictures. I got all teary eyed reading your post… I was MIA with my blog reading through the holidays, but during that time I found out we are pregnant with another little boy, our third! We currently have a 3 year old, and an 18-month old. And in about 2 & 1/2 months we’ll have #3! Last time I read your blog, I was convinced we were having a girl. But today reading this, I saw my life one year from now with three sweet little guys at Christmas and it just got me all choked up! Darn prego hormones! I’m joining the mom to three boys club and with you and a few other mommas in the same boat, I feel I am in very good company.
Thanks for inspiring me whenever I read your blog. We just bought our first home at the end of November, so now I’m seeing our home through whole new eyes- how to make a home BOY friendly but still pretty for me!
I mailed our new years cards yesterday (from Nashville, so it’ll he there soon) and I’m stoked there’s something for you all – batman stamp for Will, dog for Weston, and words of encouragement for you! The wall is epic!! Please look at that picture (or wall if it stays up) and remember that you have many readers who infrequently comment. You are still a valued joy to us, even when we don’t comment (especially when the baby’s up in the middle of the night!
Aww thank you Hope. You are golden…like a little ray of sunshine 🙂
xo – kb
You need a Lego blanket! My son played with Lego for years, always on a washable blanket. When he was done, I could pick up the corners of the blanket and pour all the bricks back into the storage box. Saved our feet!