Wednesday, December 19, 2012

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. IMG_2327 Untitled IMG_2328 IMG_2330 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. Untitled IMG_2348 IMG_2352 IMG_2342 IMG_2347 IMG_2344 IMG_2345
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!? IMG_2364 Just spending good quality time together is always my favorite part. IMG_2357 IMG_2356 Love. Love IMG_2394 IMG_2395
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. IMG_2381 IMG_2379
There is usually a fashion show afterward where everyone tries on their new clothes. Everyone looks good!
IMG_2373 IMG_2387 And of course we have to try out all the new toys! IMG_2375 IMG_2384
Girl pic!
IMG_2392 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. 

2 comments:

kristen said...

this is so much fun!! from the place setting to bens family to your family! i just love everything about this!!!! and kinley is an angel. to wait so patiently and be interested in others- i love her. and of course ty is an angel too. he would prob wait super patiently too if he wasnt first. love this whole christmas!!

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