Christmas Blessings and Traditions

It is super difficult for me to believe Christmas has already come and gone, and as I sit here and write this it is actually the first day of 2016. I say it all the time, but really...where is the time going? As a child, time stood still. But the further I get into adulthood and have children of my own, the time is flying. I am very fortunate that even my earliest memories of Christmas are very pleasant. My parents did a great job of making sure Christmas was special, no matter where we lived or who was present. There were traditions and decorations and the time was filled with a lot of love, joy, and wonder. I still feel those feelings when I prepare for Christmas in our house and it is very important for me to make traditions that our children can reflect back on. Though they are still little, and Finn doesn't really remember last year, traditions are starting to stick! One tradition is making and decorating sugar cookies for Santa (and Daddy...and Poppy...). I used to make these pretty well in advance so that they didn't have to be decorated on Christmas Eve. But last year, and as it turns out this year, I was down to the wire and we had no choice but to decorate them on Christmas Eve. But with several hands holding piping bags, it goes fast and it is fun and easy. While the decoration may not be something out of a Southern Living magazine, no matter how abstract they may be they taste absolutely delicious!

Another tradition that we have is new jammies. I gave up finding specific Christmas jammies for the boys a long time ago because, as cute as they are, they just don't look too manly as the boys have gotten bigger. And I generally wait til the last minute, so finding anything boyish + Christmasy is impossible at the eleventh hour. So they get special jammies, but they aren't holiday-special. Oh well. I figured they would both love-love their new PJs this year because they were Star Wars themed and, in case you have slept under a rock the last year, everything is Star Wars. Keagan, with his sweet and easy-to-please nature, just loved his new jammies. Finn. Well, Finn was Finn. He opened them, seemed to like them. But on closer inspection realized they had buttons and not a zipper (as in, the footed zipper jammies that babies wear). When I say he melted down, I mean he puddled. Giant crocodile tears flew out of his eyes and his bottom lip stuck out farther than his chin. And, being the child that is incredibly decisive and has something already in his mind that he wants...he immediately said he didn't like them and wasn't going to wear them. Some may take this as ungrateful. I do on most occasions, and become frustrated. But I don't really think my 3 year old has an ability to be "ungrateful" as we think of in the sense of teenagers. He is a child who knows what he wants and wants that specifically. Always has, and I believe he always will. (I suppose it is my job to mold this into something good...and teach him that life doesn't always give what we think it should...) Luckily, the meltdown was short-lived and once we explained that he could wear these or something out of his drawer, he chose his new PJs. (and for the record, he got mad that they were dirty a few days later and he couldn't wear them. so I know he likes them. thank God for washing machines...)

Wrestling and snuggling with Daddy...love these sweet smiles.

Christmas Morning!!! I won't lie, I was a little concerned how Finn would react to his presents based on his performance over the PJs the night before...  And he did have some funny moments of disappointment when Keagan opened his "big" present and he didn't get his yet. The crazy thing is, he never, ever told me what he wanted. Never. So I ("Santa") blindly shopped for him...and was a bit worried when the first few presents he opened were given a blank stare and then moved to his pile. At one point Finn actually muttered that he wasn't getting what he wanted! Sheesh!  Keagan, on the other hand, just LOVED every.single.gift and gave everything the attention it deserved. Luckily, the mood was lightened when Finn did open the present he wanted (that I randomly purchased -on a whim- at Wal Mart one day, no idea he "wanted" it). And Christmas continued with very pleasant attitudes and joy. I am gonna have to do a better job next year preparing Finn on the meaning of Christmas and that we don't always get everything we want. I truly didn't think it would come so soon! Despite the early hang-ups, I will say that both boys were truly grateful for all their gifts and have played with everything they received. I have heard some parents say their kids don't play with the toys they have...that is totally not the case in this house.  

When Keagan was 3 years old he got his first gun. I think Josh may have gotten his first gun at 3 years old as well. Well...Finn is now 3, and so the tradition continues!! And he was all business when he got his first (left-handed!!) gun from Poppy and Gamma. And he informed everyone that he was gonna pull the trigger all by himself.  

Thank You Aunt Hannah for the new hat!!  We bleed blue in this house (Go UK!) but we make an exception for maroon every now and then. :) 

Great Grandma Gail always gifts the boys with some of the most unique books...and they are a welcome sight to both momma and daddy and the boys amidst all the toys!  

Uncle Wesley really outdid himself this year with gifts for us all. The boys absolutely love their new runway and present-time had to stop for a bit so planes could land and fly!

Finley couldn't wait for breakfast and so he went ahead and consumed a whole bag of BLUE cotton candy, immediately.  

I know it is hard to believe this, but these really are all the pictures I took of Christmas this year. I've been kind of slack...  We had a beautiful Christmas and the boys really enjoyed (and continue to enjoy!) all of their thoughtful gifts from everyone.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May 2016 bring your family many blessings!