This past weekend we traveled to FL to spend the holidays with my mom.  It's been a wonderful time, even if Braeden has been somewhat thrown off and not himself.  It was harder last year though so I do see progress.  A very blessed Christmas for all of us in oh so many ways!

Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to dress up and go out to eat at Red Lobster.  May seem like a silly choice, but when I was small it was the only place open.  We would go to our family church service, eat there, go to look at lights, and then sometimes go to the late service.  I've gone almost every year since.




This year we came back and made cookies for Santa!  We had one tub of dough purchased through our school fundraiser, and made a gluten and sugar free sugar cookie as well!



Christmas morning was filled with excitement as the kids opened presents.  Even Macy who isn't with us yet wasn't forgotten by Santa and the kids each had one gift for her that they opened.


The only thing Liam would tell Santa he wanted was a gumball machine!  Not sure where that came from, but Santa didn't disappoint!


Braeden asked for a Power Rangers ?Zord? that Santa had to order all the way from Japan!


Olivia was THRILLED that Grandma gave her all of the Harry Potter books in hard back!


This summer the kids discovered and loved the old tv show Full House.  They watched some at Grandma's but we don't have cable so haven't seen it since.  They couldn't believe Santa gave them ALL EIGHT SEASONS of Full House on DVD!  (I have it on good authority that while the seasons each were quite pricey on Amazon, Santa found the whole set, most brand new, from a seller on a Facebook garage sale page VERY CHEAPLY!)  Santa ROCKS!  (And I LOVED all of Olivia's expressions!!!)


It's been a blessed holiday!  I have definitely felt the missing piece today though and pray that next Christmas Macy will be home with us to celebrate!