And, that's exactly why every year we live it up. We prepare like crazy for Jesus' birthday and do our festive traditions like gingerbread houses and cookies and Christmas lights and everything else because I want my kids to remember this magical time when they are older. I, too, want the memories of these Christmases to look back on when they grow up and would rather spend their time with their own friends or electronics because you never know when it will be the last one until it's too late.
It was, of course, getting increasingly more difficult to find the time to do everything we wanted know that we're all at work and school full-time. We had to strategically plan when we did things based on crowds and work and after school activities. In fact, Justin and I stared at our calendar for quite a while trying to figure out when to go to Cheekwood's Holiday Lights because he was adamant he didn't want to go on a weekend (too many people around so he wouldn't be able to get good pictures) and between his work schedule, my after school obligations, and the kids' extra-curricular activities, it left us with just one day - a Tuesday that just happened to be ridiculously bitterly cold. We surprised the kids by taking them to dinner and heading to Cheekwood, and while it was mostly a good time, I could tell the kids were getting tired and cold and starting to get cranky so that by the time we saw Santa, he reminded the kids (well, really Xavier) how important it is to listen to their parents because Santa only comes to well-behaved boys and girls. We did get some pretty amazing shots, though. Thanks, Justin!
Of course, we did our service projects to help others in need. My class at school raised donations for Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, and we dropped the items off one day after school. Lissie and Xavier also helped me with one of my favorite holiday traditions - filling up Christmas baskets for the area needy. They were such amazing helpers, willing to do whatever was needed to make sure the baskets were filled with goodies and staples so those less fortunate can have a decent holiday.
We also filled our festivities with a trip to Dollywood to use up the last of our seasons passes, seeing Cirque Holidaze with the family, surprising the kids with hot cocoa and a trip to see Christmas lights, our Christmas baking, and more. We did Christmas Eve Mass and a Filipino dinner. Christmas Day was lazy, with our crockpot breakfast casserole to enjoy once the excitement of presents wore off and we spent the remainder of the day playing with our new toys and watching movies.
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| Decorating the tree - and finally getting an ornament that has Xavier's name on it (something he has wanted for YEARS)     
Holiday tradition of making their Christmas PJs -
my favorite pair yet!
It's not bedtime! It's time for hot cocoa and Christmas lights!
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| We jetted out of school and to the Smokies the next day! |
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Hot-tubbing in the Wilderness at the Smokies Cirque Holidaze! |
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| Christmas cookies! |
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| My eager helpers |
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| Christmas cookies, Jesus' birthday cake, and tiramisu pie |
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| The Christmas Eve drama of Lolo washing Xavier's tooth down the drain... but the tooth fairy still visited, along with St. Nick! |
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| She claims this is her favorite gift - a loom that wasn't even on her wishlist. Santa truly does know best!  Surprise Christmas gift! |
And, ultimately, we did end up with all of that Christmas magic that we were anticipating. For that, I am grateful because nothing, absolutely nothing, is better than these memories that we can cherish forever.
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| Family photo after Christmas Eve Mass |
So many Santa sightings, it was hard to keep count! Here are a few pics with the jolly man in red:
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| Gingerbread party Santa |
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| Santa in the Smokies |
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I don't even remember where this Santa was from, haha. Santa was at the Y! |
Happy birthday, Jesus. Merry Christmas!
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