Christmas Magic

Christmas morning is always the most magical time!

This year Luke was insistent we start with the stockings. They found some great treats in there from Snata.

We then started the opening presents frenzy!! I love the way we open presents. Everybody gets their own turn and we oooh and ahhhh over each gift. Having a brother means instant teamwork when the wrapping paper is too tough!

We always spend Christmas afternoon at Grandmom's! This year Gran and Jed joined us! It was great to have the two families come together.

And, of course, we had more presents!

Gran and Jed came back to our house for presents. 

It was a great Christmas. Fun, food, and family! What more could a gal need?!?

Christmas Eve and our empty chairs

For as long as I can remember, John and I have had a big Christmas Eve party. It all started after we got married and realized, no one had anything to do after church on Christmas Eve. We love having our house full of friends and family, so we decided to host an Annual Christmas Eve party.

This not only allowed everyone to see the out of town family but also spend time with the people across our two families. We had many years when friends who are just as close as family stop by. We had years when it was just our family. We have some of our best memories from this party. It would go on well after Santa's sleigh flew over our house at midnight. The kids would keep their eyes open for as long as they could, mostly pooping out around midnight, though it never hindered them from getting up before 6am on Christmas mornings!

As we entered this most recent stage of life commitments starting popping up. Christmas Eve started to feel like more of an obligation rather than a fun family event. We started to pare it down...and try to get everyone in bed before Santa came down the chimney.

This year was it was pared down to just 6 of us. The smallest Christmas Eve in 15 years. 

We were able to go to the Lawson's church for Christmas Eve service. The boys thought it was cool to see Terry play with the worship team. There is a reason God knew we needed to be there on this particular Christmas Eve. The pastor talked about empty chairs at Christmas. The people who are missing this Christmas. That's what we were experiencing this Christmas Eve. Empty chairs.

There have been several big changes in our family over the past couple years. Things that have caused our family to change and evolve. It's what families do, but it doesn't make seeing those empty chairs any easier.

After the service, we headed home to meet Nonna and Pop. We ate, we laughed, we ate some more, we laughed some more. It was perfect. 

I had to give my sweet Uncle Buck a nod...one of our missing chairs. He brought me LeCrema every Christmas Eve. This is my favorite pinot by miles, but I don't buy it often (it's not in my 'weeknight wine' budget if you know what I mean). Uncle Buck and his kids always brought the party. His laughter would fill up the room and even if you had no clue why he was laughing, you'd join in.

No Christmas Eve will pass without the BOW PICTURE!!! Now, I am sure you remember this from years past. Evan's very first Christmas I took a picture of Evan sitting on Nonna's lap. Just to be funny, she put a Christmas bow on his head. When it's your first kid, everything is cute. Evan left behind a little more than just a bow when we were done. It required a change of clothes for both Evan AND Nonna. Every year since the boys have taken a bow picture with Nonna. I really hope they understand this will continue well into adulthood.

Finally! Present time!

We then continued a Christmas tradition and played several rounds of Jenga. Luke is still crazy good at this game. No one can figure out his secret.

Even though it was different than what we are used to, some things will never change. We left cookies for Santa (remember, the big jolly fellow negotiated five cookies), threw the reindeer some food, and Luke said goodbye to our elf.

It was so much different than what we are used to on Christmas Eve. In 2018 I going to try to let go of expectations of how I believe my day, my month, my life should go and actually live it. Even when it contains empty chairs. We lived a great Christmas Eve.

Jolly Ole St. Nicholas

We went to visit Santa!

There was quite a wait and it was super cold outside, so we made the most of it by playing word games, taking selfies and posing with reindeer. 

While we were standing in line Luke asked me to lean down so he could whisper something in my ear. He said, 'I know that is the real Santa. I know that because he has on those little glasses."

There were several babies in front of us in line, so Santa didn't have much to do but sit, hold a baby, and smile. I think he was glad to see these two for a little interaction. 

I am not sure who had more fun, Santa or the boys!! My kiddos know they are only allowed to ask for 3 presents from Santa. Both boys counted off their presents with their fingers. For some reason, Santa thought was hysterical and challenged them to list their presents without using their hands. Luke couldn't do it!! He comes by it honestly. 

They even did some silly face pictures where Santa gave the kid bunny ears. He was a jolly ole St. Nick!

My favorite part was when Santa asked them if they had been good. Crickets. You could hear a pin drop. The glanced my way with their eyebrows raised. I said, "Well, at least they are honest!!" That got a couple chuckles out the bearded fellow. 

In the end, Santa negotiated that five cookies be left for him on Christmas Eve. We won't forget his reindeer either!! Carrots and reindeer food on the lawn!

Amanda and her Alligator

St. George's has a Book Character Parade every year during Book Week. First through third graders get to dress up as their favorite character from a book.

Last year was Evan's last year to dress up and we went all out. I actually bought clothes and made stuff for his costume. That, I tell you, is a rarity in this house. 

Luke was in SK at the time and realized he had a year until his first parade. This child decided right then and there he wanted to go as the Alligator from Amanda and her Alligator. And guess who he wanted to be Amanda....yup. Me.

This went on for a year. ONE YEAR. Every time we read that book, he would mention it. "I get to be the Alligator and you're Amanda!" Yes, honey. I'll go as Amanda.

You see, working at the school in which my children attend gives me several perks. I get to also dress up as a book character. I've gone as Purplicious, the Mouse in When You Give a Mouse a Cookie, the Alligator in Peter Pan.....oh wait.

YES!! I already had an alligator head! Score.

I ended up buying him green clothes to complete the outfit. We even rehearsed what he 'might' say. I was asked to take pictures of the characters as they came out of the chapel. When I saw Luke's class walk toward the stage, I handed my camera phone to a friend and ran up to the stage. When I whispered to Luke, "You ready? You still going to say your line?" He simply put one finger to his lips and said SHHHH!

Okay.

They say, "Luke Asbell as the Alligator in Amanda and her Alligator" and he rapidly walks across the stage. I am left standing 1/4 of the way across. I walk back and whisper "and Mrs. Asbell as Amanda" to the student who is looking at me completely confused.  Luke gets to center stage and says, "I put on my thinking cap!" and skips down the stairs. By the time he's halfway down I get to the center. Now all eyes in the chapel are on me. Just standing there. Dressed as Amanda.

I laugh and say, "I'm Amanda." 

No one got it. 

This kid better be glad he is cute.

Merry Christmas from The Asbells

 Merry Christmas from The Asbells!

I need to admit something. 

I LOVE everything about the Christmas card process. I know, I know...it's horribly stressful, but I love it. 

I love thinking about their outfits. I love deciding the location. I love taking hundreds of pictures. I love trying to choose just one. I love designing the cards. I love tweaking my spreadsheet of addresses. I love printing the labels. I love stuffing the envelopes. I love love love seeing all the Christmas cards stacked in the mailbox waiting to go to friends and family.

Every Christmas card we have gotten since 2011

Now....I need to admit something.

Just because I LOVE all this, doesn't mean I don't totally and completely freak out during every step of this process. 

This year, I tried to have family pictures taken on TWO different occasions. We haven't had family pictures since Luke was two. #firstworldproblems It wasn't in the cards for us, yet again. With that knowledge I let my own personal deadline creep up on me. When I realized it was now or never, I went into complete freak out mode. Oh my gosh. They don't have anything nice to wear. We don't have anywhere to go. Luke's hair is too shaggy. I need to take these pictures in the 1 hour we actually have not scheduled this weekend.

Enter John, the one who handles my Christmas card freak out every. single. year. Together we got Luke's outfit together. He was the one who single-handedly put Evan's outfit together. He was the one who suggested our house for the picture. 

Evan was in a pretty foul mood. Luke just didn't' want to get dressed. John suggested a 'compromise' to Luke, we weren't even going to leave our house! I dealt with Evan. After he got dressed I asked him what was wrong. He said, "I am dressed like I have the most important job interview of my life" while rolling his eyes. I died laughing which made him laugh as well which cheered us both up.

I got some really good pictures of the boys. Evan is amazingly photogenic like his father. Luke is just cute with his missing front two teeth. 

Then the boys wanted to turn the camera on us. Now, let me just say, I had just gotten home from Hot Yoga, it was freezing outside, and we were SORELY not prepared to have our picture taken. But this is real life. We had so many belly laughs while they were shooting.

I think this is my favorite. No make up, athleisure, messy bun, and pure 100% love. More importantly, my boys captured this for us. 

MERRY EVERYTHING from us!

Though we wobble to and fro

The SK/1st Christmas program got a little revamp this year! Mrs. Broadway plus the teachers and some little Christmas angels (I'm looking at you Allison, Tracy, and Jessica) guided the kids to put on this magnificent play called Simple Gifts.

I was amazed what the kids got out of this play. Since I am blessed to work where my child goes, I got to hear all the chatter about the play from the kids. They didn't just memorize lines, choreography, blocking, and song, they truly understood the story they were acting out. The animals were able to provide simple gifts to baby Jesus. The cows gave their manager, the sheeps gave their wool, the donkey gave his back, the camels gave the wise men a safe passage.

Luke played the all important part of a camel who carried the wisemen to see Jesus. Though they wobbled to and fro, they would never forget which way to go. No way! No way!

Of course, Luke had an entire row for a cheering section. Again, I don't know if my kids understand how blessed they are to have family so close.

Here's to your simple gifts this season!