Christmas 2015

After all the hype of Nutcracker we had a relatively low-key Christmas. It was filled with movies, hot chocolate, family visits, baking, eating and enjoying doing nothing. We passed a cold and cough around for a few days and Lucy ended up with an ear infection but it was all pretty minor.

We spent Christmas eve at Katie and Brett's house with the McPherson cousins. The kids had fun baking and decorating sugar cookies and then exchanging presents. We were even lucky enough to get them all in a photo!

Christmas morning we slept in a bit and then opened presents before heading to Mass. We came home, had brunch and played with all the new toys before heading over to my parents for the afternoon and evening. Santa brought the girls Kindle tablets and Andrew got a little laptop of his own. Santa left extra presents at Grandpa & Grandma's with Lucy's singing Else doll and Olivia's Puppy Surprise (25th Anniversary Edition - as she always adds). They were more than happy with everything they got from us and all their family. Andrew loved opening presents and would rip off the paper or open a bag yelling, "Ohhhh, what is it??" and then loudly ooh and aah over whatever he found inside. It was adorable. He got a tray table, broom/dustpan set, books, watch, magnetic numbers/letters (that he thinks are fun to shove under sisters' door when they have locked him out), balls, dinosaurs, remote control car, clothes and crayons. The girls were equally excited and appreciative of everything. They got clothes, books, nerf guns, headphones, crafty stuff, baking stuff, games, ponies and a microscope. We scaled things back this year and it seems to have been just as satisfying. No one missed anything, it still felt like a lot but wasn't as overwhelming. We spent a lot of time with our family which was the most important and enjoyable part of the holiday season.