Christmas was grand(ish).

I know a lot of people were disappointed that Christmas was going to look a little different but I was pretty OK with it. I feel like I was pretty burned out by the time we got to Christmas that I didn't really have it in me to be "on" for others, you know? Despite that, we did have a nice little holiday.  

I did try to bake this year. I was only mildly successful. I would say at least half of the batches of cookie dough I made were totally wrong. I don't know if you know this but egg is kind of a big deal in cookies. Go figure. 

I even let Penelope and Lucy help me with some. If you know me at all, and know what a complete control freak I am, you know that is a pretty big deal. 

My friend Lauren sent the kids the cutest things and I cannot even tell you how many times I have read these books to the kids! Penelope got What Will It Be, Penelope and Lucy got Lucy & Company. If you are looking for some cute stories, definitely check this out. 

On Christmas Eve we were going to go to Matt's parents' house, which was nice, it was a little bit of tradition. On our way there, Penelope decided to pull out two of her teeth out. You know, like you do. Sigh. So not only did Santa come, the Tooth Fairy did as well. 

I got one nice photo of the kids in front of our tree with their nicer clothes on. I made Pep and Lu put their "fancy clothes" on because I spent $10 each on the dress/cardigan that we were going to use for the Christmas concert at their school that never ended up happening. 

The Christmas Eve tradition here is that we get the kids new pajamas and then I do the cute photo in front of the tree. Penelope clearly was over it, but this is a photo for the scrapbook, for sure. 

I only managed to get one photo of Matt and I over the course of two days, but at least it is a really good one. This was right before we going to get presents out and play Santa. 

I barely slept at all that night and I literally sat on the couch from 2:30 a.m. until people started getting up around 6:30 a.m. It was so nice to see everyone's face first thing. (Also, see the little kitty? His name is George, he's one of our two new kitties and I'll do a post on them soon, but isn't he ADORABLE?!)

The house was a disaster. I ended up wrapping up every single thing so it seemed like everyone had a whole ton of presents, and that was really fun but you know, it was a huge mess. Also, I am so paranoid that I am going to rip these handmade stockings so every year I end up laying them on the ottoman or in front of the tree so it always seems more cluttered to me and it makes my eye twitch. 

Lucy was SO HAPPY that she finally got this doll! She would look at it at Target every time we would go, she circled it a bunch of times in some catalog that came in the mail, and she know wants the matching outfit so they can be twins. 

Me trying play Santa and clean up at the same time because my anxiety was starting to get a little out of control at this point.

I also got a few things, a couple of books and gardening things mostly. I will say Lauren got me a personalized embosser for my books! I am so excited and I already started embossing my books!

A couple of stinking cuties. Of course, Penelope was super proud of missing two teeth and really wanted me to get a photo of it. 

I ended up having to take a nap because I was tired but I was also just overstimulated from everything. Five hours later and I got it together to finish making dinner. 

It was a nice little dinner, nothing fancy. Of course, Penelope was being Penelope so.. she's a nut. I have yet to learn how to do a timer on my phone so I can also get into photos but you know... maybe that can be a goal for 2021. 

We took all of our Christmas stuff down the next day and I feel so much better having things put away and cleaned up. It was nice. It wasn't nearly as bad as people lamented it would be. I felt like it was a really good end to the year, we got to celebrate together and really enjoy each other. I wouldn't have it any other way. 

How was your Christmas? What did Santa bring you?