Family Christmas Gatherings

This weekend was full of early Christmas family fun.

We celebrated Harrison family Christmas on Friday and Howe family Christmas on Saturday.  

It was just so much fun! I actually got to host Harrison Christmas at our house!  It was my first Christmas to host and I loved it!

 Even though we decided on a very casual Mexican theme dinner I still busted out my china because if you don't do that at Christmas...when will you? And I added a card table with a stack of foam board on top to extend my dining table so we could all fit. It was a little ghetto...but, it worked.

And Kinley helped me with a seating arrangement so I made some little placecards for everyone out of leftover sticks from our thankful tree. I didn't get many pictures that night because my camera battery ran out quickly...wah, wah, wah. But, the night was fantastic. My kids got a whirlwind of presents and were thrilled beyond belief with their swag.

After the kids went to bed we just stayed up and laughed and talked until late.  It was relaxing and fun and I am just so thankful for Ben's family.

Saturday, Bart and Olivia were in town so we celebrated both of their birthdays and had Howe family Christmas. How cute are they!? Just spending good quality time together is always my favorite part. Love.

My kids were overwhelmed again with presents. It was so sweet because we always take turns in the Howe family and go around youngest to oldest and open presents one at a time. Ty didn't care about that much but, Kinley knew exactly what that meant and waited so patiently for her turn each time. She would quietly ask me, "Is it my turn yet?" and I would tell her who else had to go and she would wait and be interested in their turn until hers. It was so cute. She was totally overwhelmed with her new Cinderella tricycle as the grand finale.

There is usually a fashion show afterward where everyone tries on their new clothes. Everyone looks good!

And of course we have to try out all the new toys!

Girl pic!

Both my kids fell asleep so we decided to play a game of spinners and when it ended at 1am decided on an impromptu sleepover at my parents. It was really so fun! We should have planned it from the beginning. We all had pancakes and breakfast the next morning and it made December 15th really feel like Christmas. It is a little weird that we were pretty much done with Christmas 10 days in advance. But, we are definitely still looking forward to Santa coming. And, I think it will help make Christmas Day a little closer to its true meaning.  We will pretty much just celebrate Jesus that day with very little gift getting.  I think I may love it.

 

I am just so thankful for our family and for being so close to all our parents and siblings and for how they love our kids.  It is so special and rare and I feel blessed beyond measure.