Christmas Numero Uno

We had a really wonderful holiday. It was relatively stress free, and I think we just really enjoyed ourselves a lot. Christmas Eve was at my parent's house, which I like the best, and we had our usual feast of pasta. This year it was lasagna with all the fixings (meatballs, sausage, Brucie, caesar salad). Yum! The kids did really well all night, and I even was able to put Eleanor down to bed then wake her up before we left. It didn't faze her much.

Ethan, after staying up until about 10:30, slept in for us until 7 and then seemed to not even realize it was Christmas, asking to go downstairs and watch a cartoon. We were glad because then we could just wait for Eleanor to wake up. Once she was up, fed, and changed, we called Ethan upstairs to see what Santa brought. He was pretty pumped, and it took him well over an hour to open his many presents. Will got a lot, but all small things, and he loved everything so much he would play with them for a while before getting interested in another present. It was really fun to watch. We had a pretty leisurely morning and then went to Mass at 11am. Both kids were good there, though Eleanor was a bit difficult to hold the whole time and was getting antsy by the end.

When we were home from church, I got the turkey ready to go in the oven and then both our sets of parents came over. Since I had prepped most of the food a couple days before, I didn't have to start really cooking until about 4, and then it was pretty simple stuff. I was really enjoying entertaining the family. Dinner was delicious, I think, and we all stuffed ourselves and then enjoyed the rest of the evening.

I cannot tell you how fun it was to have all of Christmas Day at our house. I know we're very lucky to only have to travel locally, and I really don't mind it, but it was a nice break this year to have the whole day at home. No rushing! And, now we get to have Christmas #2 tomorrow, on New Year's Day. Laura Elizabeth spent Christmas this year in Superior, with Chris's family, which is why we are celebrating late. I like that it gives us more to look forward to, especially since Christmas always comes and goes so quickly.

Many times throughout Will's two week break, I have taken mental snapshots of my little family and said a quick prayer of thanks to God for our blessings. We have the cutest kids on the planet (in my unbiased opinion), and we have a lot of fun together. Hope everyone had as blessed a Christmas as we did!

Before everyone else got to my mom's.
Our best family picture (yes, Grinch is in the family).

Auntie Nancy with the baby. She made Eleanor's stocking, so now we all match.

Sisters - the one with Malia is on Lisa's camera. I know we took one!

I love my cousin Amy!

Eleanor liked lasagna - well, or whatever I was feeding her.

Table one.

The cook - mom!

Table 2 (1)

Table 2 (2) Table 3 was the kitchen table with Lisa's and my families (i.e. the kids table).

The annual cousins picture, this one with spouses, kids, and grandma.

And just the cousins. Can't believe how big (literally for some!) they're getting.

Eleanor got to open some presents before going to bed.

I guess she likes it.

Our tree before bed on Christmas Eve. This was my year of "green" wrapping. I used white easel paper (one roll for all presents, and I still have some left) and saved all my pretty ribbon. I thought the presents were really pretty!

Our stockings, all homemade by Auntie Nancy. I love, love, love that we have these.

Our nativity with the rope Ethan fashioned to it in case anyone needed to climb up to the top. You never know...

The cook - my first time hosting Christmas Dinner. We started small with just our parents.

My table. I used snowflake ornaments Ethan and I made as place cards.

Mom helped in the kitchen.

A great looking turkey, if I do say so myself. The menu was turkey (I brined it for the first time), bacon and apple stuffing, green beans with toasted almonds and caramelized onions, mashed potatoes, and fresh cranberries. It was all pretty good, and I was happy that I timed the meal just right. I did all my prep two days before, too, making that day very easy in the kitchen.

Pop Pop Bill and Grandma chat after dinner while we try to get a very hyper Ethan to bed.

You can see by my belly how tasty dinner was. ;)

At the Field Museum, following a failed trip to the Aquarium. Line was very long (outside in the cold), so we left. Field Museum is not as fun as the Aquarium, but we made the most of it.

Eating lunch at the FM.

Cutest polar bear around.

Ethan insisted on stretching with Will yesterday. Too funny.

Happy New Year!