Christmas...a time to Believe

Oh Christmas how I already miss you, but my tree is still up so I am still soaking in the last days of Christmas. What a fun season this was for us. I truly enjoyed every minute of this month. We watched who knows how many movies from Elf, Polar Express to Love Actually and the Holiday. We wrote letters to Santa and dropped them in the BELIEVE mailbox at Macy's, had lots of hot cocoa and movie nights, read every Christmas book we own (mommy wraps up 25 books and puts them under the kids tree and it's a treat for them to open each night), drove around looking at all the wonderful Christmas lights (even though Ethan was apparently bored by the end since his yawning was getting really loud...), baked cookies, made homemade ornaments. The Christmas Women's Tea at church was perfect as it is every year, my girlfriends and I had a "Favorites" gift exchange lunch, Christmas parties (my work and family one, they both never disappoint) and best of all we celebrated Christmas the birth of Jesus.

Chippy our elf was also back...oh you should have heard the squeals from Ethan as he ran into our bedroom..."he's back, he's really back, Chippy is back!!" oh the excitement was priceless. Chippy came with a letter from Santa reminding him what the true meaning of Christmas is, Jesus and to make sure we celebrate Him during this time. He reminded the kids to love one another, be kind, and give to others. It was great having Chippy back, the kids were VERY sad when he left on Christmas.

Our fun holiday began at our Candle light service on Christmas Eve and I can't even tell how my heart was SO full watching my kids and niece and nephew listen to the service and holding there lit candles (with their eyes watching the candle ever so closely) singing Joy to the World and Silent Night, of course I wish I had taken a picture of the moment but I didn't (so unlike me, but the cameras were left in the car), but that moment was my FAVORITE moment of the night, possibly my favorite moment of the season!

We headed to Papa and Grandma's house for a fun filled night of tamales, goodies and opening presents. We ended our night at 12am, so of course Santa's "elves" did not make it to bed until 2am or later I am sure!!! And then 4 hours later I...yes I said I...was the first one up, like a child waiting for the kids to wake up. An hour later they were up and Ethan ran in the room and said..."He came, he really came, Santa came to OUR house!!!!" and that is how our Christmas morning started. It was perfect in every way, we opened presents, lounged in our jammies till 3pm, played with and put together all the toys, then we headed to Gamma's for some more fun and eating. It was a mellow Christmas evening and of course I enjoyed every bite of trifle and Christmas pudding, it is what I look forward to eating every Christmas!

Christmas season, I will miss you, but I loved you while you were here. See you in 11 months when you come back around!

December 25.....Christmas Day

Oh the joy it was to see these two enjoy Christmas morning!

Words can't express these moments...

Yes they got new jammies and had to change into them!

No that isn't champagne, it's sparkling cider!!

December 24....Christmas Eve

I love Christmas, no I REALLY LOVE Christmas, especially when you get to experience it through the eyes of a 4 and almost 3 year old! I love that I have a big family, my wonderful husband, 2 great kids, 3 sisters, 3 brother in laws, 1 brother, 10 nieces and nephews and the best Mom and Dad ever! Yes we have a blast on Christmas Eve, eating, chatting, laughing, gift opening and staying till past midnight! It is a great time! We read the Night Before Christmas to the kids before opening presents, it was an absolute wonderful night!!!

December 23......Baking with Gamma

The kids went to Gamma's house and baked gingerbread men while mommy and daddy finished up shopping! Of course Ethan ate most of his before he even got to frosting them and Taelor decorated her perfectly (my little perfectionist!). They did save a few for us and they were oh so good!!

December 22......Elf

We had movie night tonight and watched Elf! I think we are the only people who have not seen this movie, it was very cute and funny and the kids really enjoyed it too! This will be a holiday favorite added to our list for all the years to come.

December 21.... our first gift

The kids got to open one of their first gifts tonight, only because my dear friend Alyssa gave it to them and said they needed to open it tonight. It was a Christmas Book with all the characters that they love. Of course we read Beauty & The Beast and Toy Story first. It's a very cute book and the kids enjoyed the Christmas stories a few days before Santa came.

December 20....Craft day

Yes I know I am a bit behind, but here are the rest of our Christmas days and the fun things we did.

Today we did a craft, Ethan wanted to make a reindeer and Taelor made a stocking.

December 19....shopping

Hubby and I spent the day finishing up Christmas shopping! We had a great "day date", lunch and shopping in stores that we never go in with kids, it was a great day today!

December 19....My first teapot and Tea time

My first Teapot!!

Ethan opted for milk....

We enjoyed our tea!

Ethan then joined us

Love that this cup is bigger than her

Watched the Toot and Puddle Christmas as we sipped tea

Yes, that is right I finally got my first teapot! I know I am married to a Brit and I didn't even own a teapot! Well now I do thanks to Linda! Last night at my parents Christmas party we do a gift exchange where you can steal gifts, well of course my niece got this gift and didn't really want it so when my name was called I stole it from her, then the sugar and creamer was another gift that Saul stole (for me) from someone else. But a few people later and it got stolen from me! Oh I was so sad, but Linda my dad's cousin was the one who stole from me and at the end she came up to me and said Merry Christmas and handed me the teapot! An early Christmas present yeah and I love it! So tonight we made tea and snuggled on the couch for a Toot and Puddle Christmas special! It was a great night, movie watching, tea and rain, what more can I ask for!

December 18....Alanis Christmas party

Me and hubby

Karla and Aunt Tami

My beautiful niece Alycia and Randy

Renae, Kandice and Aunt Judy

Uncle Randy and his daughter Kandice

Alycia, Vanessa, Jon and Jessica

Watching the gift exchange

Only my brother would get this! Funny!

Tonight was the annual Alanis Christmas party at my parents house. It was a night filled with fun, laughter, chatting and eating, lots of eating! I look forward to this party every year, reminds me of the big Christmas' we had growing up, glad I still get to have a big Christmas with my family! I love my family, they are really the best!

December 17....movie night The Incredibles

Nothing to do with Christmas but the Incredibles was on TV tonight so it was a movie night for us Williams! No pictures of us, sorry, but it was a fun night and I liked this movie!

December 16...Christmas tree craft

Today was our Christmas tree craft. I cut little circles and the kids glued them in the shape of a Christmas tree. Then they got to decorate them. Ethan of course wanted all stars on his and Taelor went a little crazy with stickers, I love that she put a star on top of the tree though and presents under the tree. While doing this project we re-read about the Christmas tree and how it got started. I love crafts and I love that I do them with my kids!

December 15...Miracle on 34th Street

We snuggled on the couch and watched Miracle on 34th street (thanks to my Secret Santa at work that got me the movie). Not really sure this was a hit for Ethan, Taelor liked it though, but of course it was another movie with a lot of questions from the peanut gallery. I never knew that watching all these Christmas movies would mean that I would have to really explain Santa...real or not real? Just believe!

December 14... Angels

Tonight was an Angel craft! The kids thought it was funny that I traced their feet and Ethan thought it was even more hilarious that I put his face on his foot, his exact words " my face can't go on my foot, that's silly". I love that Taelor "painted" her toe nails I mean her angels body! The kids know that Angels protect us and that they are always around us, Ethan wonders why he can't see them. Sometimes I find myself going into way more detail then I need to with a 2 year old! But I am glad they know about Angels and that God sends them to earth to be with us!

December 13.....The Star

Tonight we learned about the Star! The kids really enjoyed this craft and now this great string of stars is on my tree at the bottom....gave up on having my tree just be for ornaments!

December 12...Letter from Santa

The kids received their letters today from Santa!!! Yes they were so excited ( I know you can't tell by the look on Ethan's face...he had just woke up!). Thanks to my sister Vanessa who always tells Santa that these two have been good! Ethan was wondering why his only said something about his Woody doll because that same day he realized he also wants a Mac Truck from Cars! Oh goodness, guess Santa needs to look for one of those too!