Christmas 2022

Christmas Eve was at the Goodrich's this year.  Ivy and Brynn were struggling through the flu a little but their symptoms were mild and they were fine if we kept up with medication so we decided that we didn't want to miss the festivities again (like we did two years ago) and headed to Sandy that afternoon.  I helped April with food prep while the kids played and relaxed until Eric and Heidi got there.  Brynn and Ivy had both learned Christmas songs on the piano so they kept going back to grandma's piano to practice.

We had our favorite dinner and got completely stuffed.  Grandpa did a short nativity program where we just had a Joseph and Mary.  It was a good thing we did that first because once the presents came out, it was complete chaos.  April had had us all send our gifts to her house and they were wrapped and waiting under the tree but no one knew whose was whose.  Someone would unwrap a present and the rest of us would guess who it belonged to.  Our family came home with the following fun things:  Justin: weight bench; me: everyday snow booties; Molly: vinyl records; Stockton: a mini fridge and Dr. Pepper; Brynn: sweaters, yoga pants, lip gloss; Ivy: Disney Doorables.  It's a unique way to gift but it's been a really fun tradition!

 Eli and Ivy as Joseph and Mary

To end the night we gathered in the piano room to sings Stars That Twinkle and Shine and Christmas hymns.  Our kids are finally at the age where they all want to stay and sing with everyone else and I love this special tradition.

Stockton and Luke

Molly and Tiana

It was a late night getting home but the kids had already set up their beds in Stockton's room so we were able to get them to bed quick. We set out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, Dad read The Night Before Christmas, and we tucked them in and said goodnight at a little after 11 pm.

The Christmas morning rule is no waking mom and dad up before 7 and they usually call us right at 7 all ready to go.  I think because Brynn and Ivy weren't feeling 100%, they slept a little longer.  Molly and Stockton are teenagers and have no problem sleeping in so it wasn't until a little after 7:30 before I heard anyone getting up.  I was up and ready and getting breakfast going since it was Sunday and we had church that morning.

We had time for Santa presents and then breakfast.  Like last year, the presents were wrapped and like every other year, they each got two gifts and three stocking stuffers plus some treats that were unwrapped.

Molly got a guitar, Spotify Premium, a Taylor Swift record, a CTR ring, and a Smoky the Bear sign for her room.

Stockton got a movie/gaming chair, baseball hoodies, a Nintendo game, a Braves garbage can, and a new Braves hat.

Brynn got a giant squishmallow, Legos, lotion and perfume, a beanie, and watch bands.

Ivy got a giant squishmallow, Legos, LED lights for her room, a Mirabelle plush doll, and a knitty bitty bear.

Everyone got what they wanted + a few extras!

Our breakfast was creme brulee French toast, ham and egg cups, berries, bacon, chocolate milk, and egg nog. Our friend, Windy Russ, joined us and then sat and watched while we raced around getting everyone ready for church.  I forgot to take a family photo at home so one in the car had to suffice.  Everyone was laughing at my inability to take a selfie.  Ivy ate a blue ring pop right before we left.  She tried to go back and brush her teeth again but her mouth and lips stayed blue the rest of the day.

Church was wonderful.  Justin had planned a lot of musical numbers and one speaker and it was great.  I accompanied a family singing a beautiful song, Molly sang Away in a Manger with a group of girls, and then I played Joy to the World with the organ as the closing song while the congregation sang.  There were a couple other numbers and the Primary sang as well but I made Ivy and Brynn sit out.  They were still sick and I actually sat with them in the foyer for the whole of the meeting.  It was Stockton's last Sunday as a deacon and Brynn's last Sunday before being in Young Women's. 

When we got home, we went back upstairs to open gifts from the siblings.  There was one for everyone. Molly got a makeup subscription (5 makeup/beauty samples each month + cosmetic bag), Stockton got a new baseball glove that he had designed himself, Brynn got a TCA snuggie (her cheer gym), and Ivy got a cheese mat.  Brynn and Ivy gave out some homemade gifts and from me they got a new game.  Justin and I had presents for them as well but they had to wait until my parents got there that night because our presents went with their present.

We had the whole afternoon free.  I set out a bunch of snack-type foods for lunch and we pieced on that for a couple of hours.  The kids got a little antsy and were excited when grandparents started to arrive.  Gene, April, and Brett came first, with Ruby in tow.  We had got gifts from them the night before and we had shipped their gift straight to their house.  Brett had gifted the kids a new game called Grounded For Life and we played that and had a lot of laughs over that.

 

My mom and dad got there next.  They overlapped with Gene and April so they were able to visit a little and I finished up a very simple dinner of rigatoni and sausage and homemade French bread.  I had made double the recipe because I wasn't sure who was going to be where at dinner time and so I was happy to feed everyone.  Gene and April left shortly after dinner while my parents stayed a little longer.

A couple of months ago my mom started talking about Christmas gifts and gave everyone the option to do Lagoon passes again or just gave each family a certain dollar amount.  I would have been okay with the Lagoon passes rather than more toys or things but none of the other families were doing Lagoon again and I didn't think my kids would want to go without cousins.  After talking it over with Justin, we settled on a different family gift and it went over very well...a swimming pool!  We have wanted to do this for a while and this seemed like the perfect time.  We are excited to set it up this summer and spend lots of hours in the pool.  (We had one like this growing up and I spent hours and hours each summer swimming with my sisters.  I think Brynn and Ivy will love it the most.)  My parents gave everyone personalized towels and then brought in the pool.

Since they had opened my parents gift, they could open presents from Justin and me.  No surprise here, we gave them stuff to go with the pool.  A blow-up basketball hoop, water guns, a water recliner/lounger, and a torpedo.  Summer will be extra fun this year!

Poor Brynn, she started on a fever that night so my parents went home and we got the kids to bed.  She felt a little better in the morning and even better when we got some medicine in her.  We had one more day of partying left, this time up in Plain City.  My siblings could never figure out a day to have our party but it worked out this year that Justin's work was closed on the 26th.  No one else had anything so we chose that day as our party.  My dad made a prime rib and we had turkey and potatoes and rolls and all the yummy sides for lunch.  The cousins did their gift exchange.  Molly got a wallflower and facial spray, Stockton got Blokus Duo, Brynn got Pura Vida bracelets, and Ivy got a rock painting kit.

Grant and Stockton and their new baseball gloves

Gavin, Ivy, Josie, Chloe, Stockton, Grant, Abby, Lucy, Seth, Brynn, Harper, Spencer, Tessa, Grace, Molly

Ali had a couple of games for us to play and we let the kids play with their cousins for a few hours before going home. It had been a wonderful Christmas!  We were looking forward to a long, relaxing break.