Christmas Eve
Last year I started a new tradition of making homemade hot chocolate on Christmas Eve, so that’s how I started out the day. I made a slow cooker recipe and it was delicious. We even gave Caleb some in a cup with a straw. He was super excited, but then only took about one sip. The rest of the afternoon was a lazy one spent at home. I dressed Holden in a cute mistletoe Christmas outfit and took some photos, threw gifts into gift bags, and made some dip for that night’s festivities. Caleb decided he didn’t want to wear clothes and requested pajamas… fine by me. I found some reindeer ones and he was set.
In the evening, we went to my Aunt Nikki’s to celebrate with my mom’s side of the family. My cousin was in town and us girls did a cute sock gift exchange. We had lots of good food, including some very delicious steak that my aunt made, and cookies from my sister-in-law. Caleb and his cousins got some nice gifts and spent the night playing together and running around. It’s rare to get (almost) the whole family all together in one place, so that was the best part.
Around 8:00, Jerry was ready to head home. He had some pain in his eye, and we needed to get Holden to bed anyway. Caleb DID NOT want to leave yet though, so we left him with my parents who brought him home around 10:30. I stayed up to wait for him and watched some Christmas shows while I waited. Once he got home, I could finally hit the hay too.
Christmas Day
Another busy day for us! Jerry got up before me to put together Caleb’s electric police motorcycle we got him. When Caleb and I got up, he was still downstairs working on it. Luckily, as I mentioned, Caleb really didn’t know what to expect and therefore didn’t rush out to the tree, or he would have been disappointed since that was his one and only gift since it was a big one. A little while later, Jerry brought it up and told him Santa dropped it off. When Jerry set it in front of him, Caleb went “oh! So cool!” It took a little while for him to learn how to push the gas petal, steer, and go forward and in reverse, but now he totally gets it. The thing lights up and makes noises too, and he’s been zipping around the house all week. Lord help me. It’s moving down to the garage soon since it’s really supposed to be an outdoor toy. Hallelujah.
Jerry and I exchanged gifts next. We are NOT fancy. Jerry just handed mine to me unwrapped, and his were all stuffed into one gift bag. I told him next year, we should really wrap them and be more fun. HA! We hate and suck at wrapping though, so we’ll see.
After that, I gave both the boys a bath so they’d be Christmas fresh, then got to work on my snickerdoodle cookie bars that Jerry requested I make for my parent’s house. Once they were ready, we loaded up the car and headed over to have a Christmas brunch with my parents, brother’s family, and Aunt Karin. My mom made her usual Christmas breakfast that is some sort of potato / egg / sausage delicious concoction topped with a biscuit, and we exchanged gifts. My mom did a really cute Pinterest-y gift for the boys this year where they had gifts in boxes that were stacked and dressed to look like snowmen. The boys all got a kick out of that! As always, they were nuts together. I’m glad that Holden and Caleb have their three little guy cousins… they all have a blast together.
We headed home around 1:00 and Caleb and I laid down for a nap. At 4:15, I finally had to wake him up because we were late for our next and final Christmas gathering. This time, we headed to my Aunt Julie’s for Christmas dinner with my dad’s side of the family. We had a delicious meal and dessert, and exchanged more gifts, including some amazing handmade items from my Aunt Jackie. My grandma also played “Bohemian Rhapsody” on the piano… pretty epic.
We finally headed home around 7:00, and that ended our Christmas festivities for the year. Caleb woke up vomiting the next morning, so I went into work late once he started feeling better. Now we just wait for the next celebrations! New Year, followed by our many January birthdays (me, Caleb, Jerry, and several other family members… yikes!).
Gifts
If you’re wondering what we all got this year, I’m listing it below! I know gifts aren’t what’s important, but let’s be real… they’re fun, and I know I’ll look back and want to remember, so here we go!
For Me: from Jerry, I got The Greatest Showman Bluray and soundtrack, as well as a pair of sneakers. He also worked OT and gave me $100 to spend on decor. I bought some primitive snowmen from a doll artist I love. My parents got me two primitive mice that I collect from the same artist, a vintage Annalee Mrs. Claus doll, a Mama Bear sweatshirt, and a personal gift that my mom made for me: a baby book that she started for Holden and a photo album of his baby pictures! So sweet. I also got a personalized StephTheBookworm bag from my aunt, as well as a pair of “Do not Disturb, I am reading” socks! From my grandparents, we got cash and a Papa Joe’s gift card!
Jerry: I got him a beard brush, beard oil, an Ed Bassmaster “Psh” shirt (he’s a YouTube comedian we love), and a Bluray set of Lost Boys. From my parents, he got a Raiders blanket, plaid shirt, and new slippers!
Caleb: we got him an electric police motorcycle that he’s been riding around the house. Oy! He got so many other nice things from family members like clothes, a carnival set, xylophone, reading device, hula dancing toy, and more. My crafty aunt (mentioned above) also made him a personalized tote bag and “Big Brother” shirt.
Holden: he’ll be getting a belated gift of a floor play mat since our floors are all hardwood. We weren’t in a rush though since he has no idea what the heck Christmas even is! From my parents, he got clothes and a little baby ball pit. From my aunt, he got a personalized tote bag and a “Little Brother” onesie. He also got some other little goodies from family members like teethers, bath toys, and board books.
My Parents: we got my dad an Eagles Greatest Hits record since my mom got him a new record player. For my mom, we went in with my brother to get her a personalized Mimi blanket with all the grandson’s names on it!
My Nephews: we got them a shared gift of a little play tent and a projector light to go in it.
Santa Visits
We did three Santa visits this year! We actually didn’t make it to the mall, which we almost always do, but these events were way calmer and more personal than the mall Santa, so I think it worked out well.
Faris Pharmacy Holiday Open House: this was a fun event with live music, treats, free caricature drawings, Santa, and presents for the kids from Santa. Jerry and I took both kids.
CharBroil Santa and Rudolph Dinner: this is a dinner that Caleb has gone to every year since he was a baby, and this was the first year that Jerry got to go since he’s no longer on nights! We took both the kids. Not only do the kids meet Santa and get a gift from him, there are reindeer and other Christmas characters who are outside tapping on the windows (my cousin is one of the deer!). Caleb was really excited this year for the first time, and kept standing on his seat to get a view out the window.
Soho Bagel Breakfast with Santa: this one was just Caleb and me at a local bagel cafe that I like. He got to meet Santa and even got a chocolate and a cookie from him.
What I Watched
I only watched a total of four movies this year… very pathetic! I also watched several shows though, so that makes me feel a little better. Phew! Haha.
Movies
- Christmas at Graceland: this was your standard cute Hallmark Christmas movie. This one appealed to me because I love country music. Kellie Pickler was in it, and her character heads to Graceland for a business deal. There, she runs into an old flame and music partner. Not a favorite, but worth the watch.
- A Christmas Switch (UP channel): this was an UP channel movie, but your typical Hallmark-type one. Two very different moms switch bodies and learn new perspectives. Sweet movie!
- A Christmas to Remember: a woman loses her memory in an accident and a kind family takes her in. Sweet and cute. I liked it quite a bit!
- A Shoe Addict’s Christmas: based on a Beth Harbison book that I read and enjoyed (LOVE Beth Harbison), this was my favorite one of the season! Super cute and fun, a woman has a visit by a guardian angel for Christmas.
Shows
- Holiday Baking Championship: I love all the Baking Championship shows, and this did not disappoint. It always gets me in the mood for cookies and cake though! I thought Doug would win and I was not surprised. I liked him and thought he was super talented.
- Christmas Cookie Challenge: another fun cooking show. I wish it was formatted more like Holiday Baking though, instead of new contestants each episode. Still fun though!
- Holiday Gingerbread Showdown: I actually watched this the two days after Christmas because I just ran out of of time before. It was fun, but my least favorite of the cooking shows. I don’t think the right winner was chosen either.
- Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic: I love when Freeform does these Disney wedding shows! So beautiful, fancy, and festive! Some of the families seem filthy rich though… not relatable to me. HA!
- Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic: another fun Freeform special. I’m not even a Disney fanatic, but these specials are fun to me. I loved seeing how they transform Disney and all the work that goes into it.
What I Read
I usually read 3-4 Christmas books a year, but this year was a total letdown. I ALWAYS read the new Christmas books from Richard Paul Evans and Debbie Macomber, and didn’t get to either one this year! Those will be at the top of my list next year, both their 2018 AND 2019 releases. Anyway, here’s the ONE Christmas book I read this year.
- Let it Snow: this is a holiday compilation of three YA Christmas stories that we read for my Forever YA book club. I’m actually still reading it and hoping to finish it before 2019 strikes! So far, it’s a fun, whimsical read!
… and that sums up the 2018 Christmas season for us!
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