Low-Key Christmas Eve

Later in the afternoon my parents joined us for a very casual and low-key Christmas Eve.  We made cookies for Santa and had dinner together.  I kept with my soup tradition and made lasagna soup for dinner.  Then we took a little tacky lights tour in our nearby neighborhoods.  Fielder cut our trip short and we came home to check all of the Christmas Eve things off the list.

We left carrots for the reindeer, Magic Key on the front porch, cookies and milk for Santa, gave Elfie a hug and put him in the tree, and of course we read The Night Before Christmas.

The kids were looking forward to touching Elfie all day long!  Even though the pictures are blurry, I love the expressions on Fielder's face!

Notice a certain someone's hands reaching for Elfie!

Thanks Mom and Dad for making the drive over!  Once everyone was tucked in and asleep, I barricaded the upstairs with the couch so no one could sneak downstairs!  I even slept up there due to on-going sleep issues with Fielder and making sure no one got a peek of Santa's loot before the morning!

Christmas Eve

I hosted the Barnes gathering at our house this year on Christmas Eve, along with tons of assistance from Alison.  As usual, it was a little crazy and I didn't get very many pictures.  We were so happy to have the family together - especially Jake from Wisconsin!  Even G and Chloe (Coral's sister and niece) joined us.  I'm really hoping Alison got more pictures that she can share with me because mine are not great.

Alison brought so much food and I made a few things for a brunch.  I wish I had taken a picture of our spread!  It was delicious!

After a little drama over who was coming, who wasn't, and when they might actually arrive, we eventually had everyone here for round 2 of brunch and presents.

Alison brought a "Pass the Parcel" game - the kids took turns passing it around a la musical chairs. Each layer had candy so you know Fielder was into it.  The last gift inside had some horns - just what we needed to add to the noise level!  :-)

The kids were spoiled with so many nice things.  Fielder got a puzzle and Star Wars outfit from Sally (who couldn't come, but we will make a point to visit soon!!).  He got Jenga and Connect 4 from Alison & Matt, a nerf gun from Jake (see excited expression below), and from Popa and Abu he got a ski-ball game and a bullhorn that changes his voice.  The bullhorn came with a pre-gift-opening-apology from Popa!!

Claire got Flipsies from Matt & Alison which she had really been wanting, a chocolate-making kit from Uncle Jake, an outfit and giant craft bucket from Sally, and a magic set from Popa and Abu.  We tried our best to maintain the one person at a time thing, but it was tough.  Alison and I were being trampled by the kids!  Jenna cracked me up - she would take a present and sneak off to another room to open it!  It was a very nice morning and thanks so much to Alison for all of the food!  Jenna needed to get home for a nap so we wrapped things up (and of course Rob wanted his nap too - ha ha!)  

Christmas Eve-Eve

The Mason Christmas was spent on the day before Christmas Eve this year.  We gathered at Mom and Dad's house for lunch, presents, a day of hanging out, and then a great dinner together.

The kids were anxious to open stockings...we at least held them off for an hour or so.  I love stockings and the kids were excited to see what they got.  Once we started, there was no stopping so we moved on to the presents.  Hootie the owl brought the kids big tubs of popcorn and even Santa's random family members brought cards - so funny!

Our cards from Santa's long lost family members

As you can see, Mom and Dad gave The Gift this year!  Santa's got nothin' on Mimi and Papa!

The kids spent the majority of the afternoon playing with their new gifts.  Ah, some peace and quiet!  I know screen-time limits are needed at some point....but for now we'll all take advantage!

Claire taking her first selfie!

They did tear themselves away from the tablets long enough to play with Fielder's new playdough set.  It was really cute and we texted Popa a picture of Fielder practicing to be a dentist.

We tried to get out of Mimi's hair for a bit and went for a walk to look at lights.  This has gone bad a couple of years in a row now...I'm thinking next year we'll just drive!  Claire almost walked out in front of a car and Fielder tripped and fell on the sidewalk.  Oh well, we gave it a shot.
Mimi made a delicious dinner and after a giant plate of desserts, we were all tired and ready to head home.  The kids were silent in the car playing on their kindles and then when we got home we were surprised to find that we had been elfed!  Even though they were exhausted, we opened the Elf present and then of course made a stuffed bear from Claire's present from Mason Jr's because naturally we had to do that before bed!!  :-)

Thank you Mimi and Papa for everything!!!

Christmas Lights

My Favorite Tree

 Aside from the Tacky Light Run, we went out to look at lights quite a few times during the holidays.  I love it, but next year I REALLY want to do a limo tour so I don't have to drive!!

One night I accidentally took the longest possible route to get to a house that should have only been about 10 minutes away.  (Again, next year....limo tour)
The kids thought it was cool and wanted to text Mimi and Papa pictures of Santa playing golf and a VCU basketball Santa.

Another night's tour was to see Mr. Christmas's house and the big $50K winner from The Great Light Fight.  I packed dinner "to go" and we left at 5 hoping to beat the crowd.  The traffic on Wendhurst was insane - I can't imagine living on that street and dealing with that every night.  

And then on Christmas night we took a drive over to see the Phifer's house.  You just can't beat that one!

Cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus

I hadn't posted yet about our visit to see Santa because the picture ended up being our Christmas card this year!  Of course, I was running late on time so only sent out a few cards to family.   

This year, I decided to ditch Legendary Santa.  I love all my pictures over the years and hate to end a tradition, but after the lines and the chaos I wanted a more low-key Santa experience.  (Plus we aren't members anymore so a trip to CM would cost a lot more knowing the kids would want to play in the museum too.)  Our neighborhood offers a Cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus evening and for only $10 you get a half-hour window of time to visit, cookies and activities while you wait, and professional photos.  Sign me up.  

We waited for a small amount of time while Claire made an ornament and Fielder ate his weight in cookies.  Then it was our turn!  They were SO excited!!

Santa and Mrs. Claus could not have been any nicer or more perfect.  They were so beautiful and even helped Claire out of her "situation" of accidentally touching Elfie.  Fielder kind of told on her, but Mrs. Claus immediately explained that all you have to do is sprinkle a little cinnamon on him and he will get his magic back!  Of course it only works one time.  Claire was SO relieved.

Claire asked for Aqua Beads and Fielder asked for a candy cane and Aqua Beads too since he couldn't think of what else to say! And they both said they like surprises.

And here's the Christmas card!  Blurry, but you get the idea!