Documented: Christmas in Illinois 2013

Christmas Part 2: Blue Skies and Sunshine

And our Christmas continued.

Last year (as in 2012, since it might be confusing because I'm writing this so very late), we decided to try to get time off to go to Florida for Christmas in 2013.  We hadn't seen Brian's family during the holidays since 2005 I think.

We stopped traveling on Christmas for two reasons.

One...we wanted to begin our own traditions with the boys in our own house.

Two....honestly, it is just so so so difficult to travel so far with small children - especially during the holidays.

So we made a decision when we moved to St. Louis to be at home on Christmas, and we have never regretted that.  So nice to sit in your jammies all day and not have any obligations - just enjoying the day.

However, like I said, we had not seen our family in Florida over the holidays in 8 years I think.

And because we asked so early (a whole year ahead of time) for the time off, it was granted and we were able to go.

We decided to break our tradition and travel.

I will admit that it was stressful with a capital S to get ready for the trip during the most stressful time of the year.

Part of me wanted to say forget it and plan to see them in the spring or fall when we usually do.

The other part really wanted to spend the Christmas week with them and let the boys experience their traditions since they were too young to really remember being there at Christmas before.

That's the part that won out in the end.

And it was the best Christmas week I've had in a long time.

We went with Beth and Rick and Rick's sister, Evelyn, and niece, Lisa, to the Grand Floridian to see the Christmas decorations out there.  The life sized gingerbread house is always one of my favorites and it did not disappoint this year either.

A nice man even took a group picture of us in front of the huge...I mean HUGE...tree in the Grand Floridian's lobby.

I should say that we also ventured over to The Contemporary and The Polynesian that night, but the decorations there were....ummmm.... less impressive.  I would say those two stops were a waste of time, but we laughed so hard so many times that I wouldn't have missed it!

Christmas morning.

Ethan found a new bat under the tree.

Elliott found a laptop that he had been begging for.

Can you tell who the dramatic one is?

Beth and Rick gave Nana and PaPa a new rocking chair for the porch.

It even has the Army symbol on it - PaPa's branch of service.

Making apple salad for the feast to come later that afternoon, and discussing the preparations for the gathering Beth hosted the night before.

Brian and the boys and I took off one night out to The Boardwalk to get some dinner and just enjoy.

I love that all things Disney are so close to his parents' house because we always feel like we are on vacation as soon as we set foot on Disney property.

This was the lobby at The Boardwalk.  Such beautiful decorations.

The boys talked us into renting this surrey to ride around the Boardwalk.  It was all fun and games until we had to ride it uphill.  Maybe next time a few of us will get out and run beside the thing.  Good grief that was a workout!  Thankfully, the second time around the loop, a man saw us struggling up the hill and pushed us.  Ahhh....that was better.  Thank you kind man!

In front of the Dolphin.

The walkway was line with palm trees covered in lights that danced to music.

So fun.

The chocolate display at The Swan.

All of this is made of chocolate - unbelievable talent!

Apparently, someone tried to eat some of it last year.

I love chocolate, but not that much....yuck!

The Dolphin again.

The tree inside the Dolphin was so pretty.

There was even snow that fell every so often that the kids loved.

(well, my kids weren't so impressed since they see the real thing so much, but the other kids were enjoying it)

And a stop at Beaches and Cream.

The boys want to get The Kitchen Sink next time.

Google it and see why that won't be happening.

Love this picture.

Definitely not a great photograph judging by technical aspects, but I love their faces.  

Totally captured each of their personalities.

The week was over too early.

One more pose with Beth and Rick.

I'm pretty sure the boys would move in with them.

And one more with Nana and PaPa.

Loved getting to spend so much time with them and celebrate Christmas together.

Hopefully we will get to do it again soon!

Over the River and Through the Woods.....

We celebrated Christmas at my parents' house early this year so that we could all be together before the four of us went to Florida over the Christmas break.

Santa hats are a must at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We all drew names this year for the gift exchange, and Ethan ended up with Ben's.  At Thanksgiving Ben kept talking about the Christmas tree at his house - he loved it and wanted to hug it.  So cute!  He  said he wanted his own Christmas tree that he could hug and put a blanket around the bottom.  Charlie Brown, perhaps?  

So Ethan set off on a mission to find one for him and find one he did.

Ben carried the box with the tree in it all around the house the day we opened gifts.  Erin was smart to not let him open the box until they got home.  He was just so funny with it!

Something like 14 inches of snow had fallen at my parents' before we got there.  It had melted quite a bit, but there was still enough to build a snowman and take a ride on the sled.

And even Santa showed up!

Gideon was willing to sit on his lap, but was definitely keeping an eye on the jolly ole guy.

Very fun Christmas with family.

Christmas 2012

A few pictures from our Christmas celebrations.

We had a great time with my parents, sisters and their families last weekend.

Never seems like there is enough time together!

And Christmas morning at home was awesome too.

When we moved to Missouri we decided to stay home on Christmas.

We had been alternating between our families in Illinois and Florida, but we felt like we wanted the boys to have the chance to wake up at their own house on Christmas morning for a while.  And we have loved each year of that!  We always have a very low-key day.  No big meals to prepare or clean up.  No traveling.  Just pajamas all day, snacking, hanging out, napping, whatever we want.

Christmas at Grandma's & Grandpa's

It's always fun when we're all able to get together with my parents, sisters, brother-in-law and nephews.  Especially for Christmas.  And we were all even under one roof for over 24 hours which meant that we could stay up really late playing board games, talking, laughing.  It was fun.  Reminded me much of New Years Eves when we were all still at home.  Those times are pretty rare now, so we make the best of them when we do get them.

Stratego was a new game for me - not for the boys of the house, though :)  I guess it was just foreign to those of us who grew up in a house full of girls.

Trivial Pursuit is a must for Erin and Brian - the rest of us try not to upstage them with our trivia knowledge......okay, the rest of us kind of stink at trivia, but we enjoy playing.  But only to 3 or 4 pie pieces.  6 is way to long of a game, don't you think?

All of the boys were excited about their presents the next morning.  It was fun to watch their faces as they opened each one.

Amber always chooses the perfect gift for Brian.  This year it was pants expanders for those times when you eat too much or your suit pants from high school don't fit anymore.  They are just so thoughtful with each other.

They assure me they will not shoot their eyes out.

 

Both of my sisters required a nap that afternoon.  Maybe I should have joined them :)

Of course a game of Monopoly.  If Elliott is around, there will be a game of Monopoly played before the weekend is over.

And ending the afternoon with a little iPad time.

lego nativity

We stopped at Our Lady of Snows Shrine (I think that's what it's called - I always get it wrong) on the way home from one of our holiday trips to Illinois.  We were too early for the lights or laser show, so we walked over to the hotel to see the Lego Nativity.  Wow.  This was really amazing for us as a Lego family, but I think anyone would appreciate the time and effort and talent that went into this.  I can't even imagine how you begin to design something like this and see it come to life.