OBLIGATORY CHRISTMAS POST

We spent Christmas Eve day at Brian's parent's house. Mostly making the famous and delicious cinnamon roll Christmas trees. The kids were given the task of putting on the maraschino cherry "ornaments." These trees are given away to friends and eaten, with sausage, for Christmas morning breakfast. The best family tradition EVER.

There was enough dough left over for Lauren and Baker to make their own, kid-sized trees. Baker's technique is my personal favorite:

One for you.

And one for me.

The finished products:

That evening, we drove over to our house to hang stockings, read, sing, and put the kids to bed.

Cameron got to hang her stocking on the latch on the coffee table door, so she could reach it. She looks thrilled, doesn't she? You can just see on her face that her only thought is, "Can I go to bed now, please?"

Baker wondered what the huge, oddly shaped present was. And was so excited to learn that it had his name on it!
Patience payed off and he found out that Grandma and Grandpa had bought him his very own puppet theater. Wow, thanks guys! No, really, thanks!
Notice that I assigned Cameron to be the audience. Baker's puppet shows mostly consist of the puppets saying Hi to the audience and then screaming and beating each other up. Then, he throws them across the room. Cameron thinks this is hilarious. I do not.

Lauren was shocked to open her gift from her siblings and find the Sleeping Beauty Barbie and Horse. I have a strict "No Barbie" policy, but caved this once because she asked Santa for a "beautiful doll -- but not a baby doll; like a princess." Well, Santa was done making toys by the time that request rolled around and she repeatedly stated that it was the ONLY thing she wanted this year. I let Cameron and Baker be the heroes on that one.
Really, though, Santa is a smart guy and knows that all a girl wants is a new outfit.

After opening my presents, the only thing I had was a stack of four gift cards and some cash. I was thrilled. Brian gave me a certificate for Dad's Day With the Kids, so I can shop and get a pedicure. Trust me, I am saving this one for dire straits. Like, maybe when all three kids have the puking flu, I will cash that bad boy in.

Really, it was a fun and low-key holiday. Just the way I like it. We had tons of snow and got to spend several days with Brian's parents. I know we live in the same town as them, and can see them whenever we want, but there is just something about the holidays that makes it better. Because, without school or work obligations, you give yourself permission to do nothing else but eat, watch movies, play games, and spend time together.

And that's ALL I ever want for Christmas.