Christmas Was Cold

Fairy garden!

Christmas morning dawned, bright, sunny, a few snow flurries, and cold. Like really, really cold. Like some twenty odd degrees below zero cold. Brrrrr! Luckily, it was holly, jolly, and warm inside Gma and Gpa's house.

We sang Happy Birthday to baby Jesus and then checked out our stockings. Santa comes to Gma and Gpa's every year and fills everyone's stockings. But he also swings by our house and leaves their presents under our tree (which they open when we get home). Santa's stocking game did not disappoint and everyone was pleased with their contents. The girls got JoJo bows, which delighted them to no end. If you don't know what a JoJo bow is (I didn't), it's a ginormous bow for their hair. Like really big! But they love them - and look cute as can be. Dec got some Hot Wheels and a superhero Lego set.

Hulk action figure

The morning was such fun and everyone got gifts that they loved. I was thrilled when I opened a new Nespresso coffee/espresso maker. Mike and I have been having the best time experimenting with it. His lattes are just as good as Caribou's. And much cheaper! Fiona was delightfully surprised by a fairy garden from Auntie and Dec was super pumped with his Lego sets and Hot Wheels stunt track. Quinn was so excited with the How To Draw book, sketch pad, and erasable colored pencils we got her.

After presents, we got ready, convinced Mike's car to start despite the cold, and headed over to Tracey and Kyle's for Mike's family Christmas. I love how laid back our celebration is there. We eat, relax, and hang out together. Low key and perfect. We were all sad that Gma and Gpa N were not able to make it over due to the weather - but Gpa V was there and that made everyone happy! There was a saxophone concert, video game challenges, lots of Barbie playing, and treat sneaking.

Learning to draw a penguin

The two littler ones could have used an afternoon nap, so we snuggled on the couch and watched Cars 2 with cousin Nate. Dec loved it and will tell anyone who will listen that the bad guys were so silly because they thought Lightning McQueen would say "Ka-Boom" when he actually says "Ka-Chow."

We headed back to my parents' house just before dinner and gave short people some very needed baths. It was early(ish) to bed for the gang. After it was quiet downstairs (which did not take long), we broke out the new game that Tracey had given Mike for his birthday - "Fun-Employed."

You guys, it is the most ridiculous game ever and we laughed harder than I've laughed in years. It was hysterical and so so so SO inappropriate. PSA: best played with alcohol. But we had the very best time. And my sister and I almost fell off our chairs when my dad asked my mom to tell him "more about your Resting B*tch Face."

Matching jammies

Auntie Tracey got out her big camera ...

and captured them perfectly

She also captured a photo of the JoJo bow

My sister during Fun-Employed