Christmas 2014 Highlights

I know, I know...Christmas was a few weeks ago already. But in all honesty, our Christmas events lingered until Sunday, 28th. That counts for something right? ha  Anyways, I thought I would share some of the highlights from our Christmas this year. I would do a low-lights post...but that would include photos I didn't take of piles of kleenex, days spent in beds, and me cleaning my bathroom with bleach after my family had been sick. YUCK. Overall, we did have a pretty darn good Christmas. But I pray to never have a sick Christmas season like that ever again! 

Onto the fun stuff... 

Our Christmas festivities started Christmas Eve morning with a family day at the in-laws. (they were sick too, our poor family) The kids enjoyed playing outside, running with their cousins & opening oodles of gifts from their grandparents.  Adults enjoyed relaxing in the living room, drinking brandy slush and eating our fill of yummy appetizers & fondue!

After a day of gifts, delicious food, drinks and Christmas Eve Mass, we headed home to see if Santa had arrived. This was always a tradition when I was little, to come home late in the evening just before bed time to see if Santa had came. 

....and he DID! They were so excited to open their gifts from Santa and one fun gift from Mom & Dad! Santa brought Collin the big item that he wanted on his list, a snowboard. Santa also brought Amelia items for her dolls and art supplies!

Her favorite gift from grandma and grandpa was this vacuum! 

 

She received Elf on the Shelf bandaids in her stocking. She opened the box immediately to put one on!

 This year, Santa went lighter on the gifts than usual. We decided to give our kids the gift of time & experience. We gave them a 3 day waterpark & hotel stay at the Great Wolf resort in Wisconsin Dells.

Christmas Day brought us to my parents for a Christmas morning breakfast and gift opening.  My children were again very spoiled, as we came home with a car full of gifts! 

 

I am pretty blessed to have such wonderful parents. 

We ended our Christmas Day at my husband's aunt & uncle's home. I didn't take a single photo at this event, I was busy relaxing and enjoying the afternoon with a tall glass of slush in my hand. 

Saturday, 27th We enjoyed another Christmas gathering with my mom's side of the family. We had such a great day laughing & again eating way too many snacks and Christmas goodies.

My grandparents are the matriach & patriach of our family. They are two of the most amazing people I know and so blessed to have them in my life. It is important to me to continue to take photos with them & with my children, as they are getting older. 

I love this photo of my husband & my daughter.

This is probably the best family photo we have of the four of us from this Christmas! It's hard to get us all in one spot, all looking and all smiling at the same time!!!

 

Her little grin melts me!

Our last Christmas event of 2014 was with my husband's side of the family. This event is held at a local reception venue, as they have a very large family. We are so blessed to still have his grandparents in our lives & our children to have so many great grandparents. 

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Season & are staying healthy. We have been covering ourselves in essential oils to try to keep ourselves healthy this past week. I am praying to continue to stay that way!

What were your favorite highlights from this Christmas?