Christmas and New Years

I'm so far behind - well, at least I feel so far behind.  The reality is that Christmas was only 2 weeks ago...and New Years was just last week.  But January and February usually take off on me and before things get too out of control, I just need to get the holidays documented. 

There is a VERY good chance this is going to turn into a photoblog.  Lucky you - back in the day I used to never even use pictures in my entries and now sometimes it's all I do!

First - can you believe that I never documented Oliver's first picture with Santa?  I wasn't sure how we were going to get to see Santa this year.  For the past few years we have gotten pictures taken at Eleanor's daycare; however, with Oliver being so small, we didn't go to the daycare Christmas party this year.  And I just couldn't imagine going to see a mall Santa...waiting in line and then not being able to use my own camera?  Psh, no thanks. 

So when I heard one of our favorite restaurants was hosting a Breakfast with Santa, I thought, why not?  I don't even want to tell you where it is because I don't want it to gain any popularity! But knowing the restaurant location provides the humor in the story!  It was Quaker Steak and Lube (affectionately known as "The Q") (which is essentially New Berlin's BW3s (even though there is a BW3s within eye sight of the Q)).  So the mere fact they were going to have a pancake breakfast was rather hilarious.  Not to mention they host a bike night in the summer...and a car night.  I totally imagined Santa showing up in a ripped jean jacket and a Harley!  But it was my only chance.

 

And it was awesome.  Santa was GREAT.  It wasn't crowded.  We got to get in to see Santa right away.  He did great holding Oliver and engaged Eleanor in some conversation too.  We ate plenty of pancakes and then got to color with Santa for awhile too.  Momma was happy - so all were happy!

 

So I digress, which I'll try not to do too much or this post will be even longer than it's going to be!

 

Christmas came so quickly this year!  We went out to dinner on December 23 for Eleanor's birthday and then came home and opened Eleanor's birthday presents from us.  Eleanor has been playing with my American Girl doll for some time now and we decided she was ready to have her own. Eleanor's initial reaction as "I already have one", but it's quickly become her favorite present.  

 The next morning we woke up - and celebrated Eleanor's real live birthday.  I just love telling her about the moments leading up to her birth...and the great thing is, she loves listening to it.  I'd say, "6 years ago, I was..." and she'd say, "6 years ago, I was kicking mom's tummy"...and Andy would say, "6 years ago, I was living the good life".  And then we all laugh because we all know that Eleanor and Dana are the best things that happened to Andy....and then we all laugh again! :)  Have I mentioned once or twice that I can't believe I am the mother of a 6 year old?  How did she get to be 6??

We also started our first of many Christmases!  Of course Oliver didn't have much interest in anything that was going on...but Eleanor enjoyed being able to open his presents!

 Love the picture below - We got Eleanor a "Frozen" diary because she loves writing stories and has been going through all our old notebooks.  This diary comes with a lock and key and she thought it was just the greatest thing ever.  We taught her what a diary was and what she could use it for.  She looked SO grown up sitting there writing in her diary!

 Then it was off to Andy's dad's to celebrate our next Christmas.  This year we decided to keep things easy and just order lasagna for our lunch.  So my sister-in-laws and I headed out to pick up said lasagna.  Well, shucks, that lasagna just wasn't ready yet, so we had to order a drink at the bar.  It was such a great time!  Escaping the madness that is Christmas with 7 kids and just hanging out with these 2 lovely ladies that I just don't get to spend nearly enough time with!  We truly had a great time, but it was Christmas, so we decided we better get going before we got in too much trouble!

After lunch we headed up to my parents to celebrate ANOTHER Christmas.  My sister and her family were at church, so it was a nice quiet time of just hanging with my parents for a little bit before more madness started.

 This is a great picture that captures how Oliver was starting to feel about Christmas.  MAKE IT STOP MOM!!

 Eleanor started to crash too...she took her new Frozen comforter.."thanks" Aunt Melissa...and cuddled in a corner.

 But quickly came back to life when there was more Birthday celebrating to do.  What a day for this kiddo - All day Birthday - All day Christmas!

 That is one giant door mat!

 We finally got home and crashed...only to wake up on the 25th to celebrate...MORE CHRISTMAS.  Despite the fact that we had all been spoiled rotten already, the jolly man in a red suit made a visit to our house.  Now I'm not going to say Eleanor doesn't believe in Santa...but she is a VERY practical child.  She knows the Santas in the stores are not real.  She's not even sure if they are really Santa's helpers.  She's made a few comments that just make me think she questions the magic of Santa...but when she woke up on Christmas morning and saw more presents under the tree, she looked at me and said, "Oh mom, I just KNEW Santa was real".  Keep believing kiddo - please, keep the magic!

 We even got to enjoy a few moments of down time before rushing out the door for more celebrations.

I tried to not get us to church too early this year...but I couldn't help myself.  I started to feel panicked, remembering the Christmas masses of my childhood.  Standing room only...people in the basement...in fact, my sister's mass started 15 minutes early because there just wasn't room for any more people!  I guess Christmas Eve is different then Christmas Day.  We arrived in plenty of time...at least we weren't the first ones this year...

After mass it was off to Andy's moms for....MORE CHRISTMAS. 

 We ate some breakfast, opened some presents and then it was off to Andy's Great-Grandma's for MORE CHRISTMAS! 

 This final Christmas celebration is truly madness...I mean, look at all those kids!  But they all are really great and they play SO well together.  I just love watching Eleanor and the memories she's making, playing with cousins at Great-Grandmas.  

 

 That night we got home and surveyed our house that LITERALLY looked like a bomb went off! (PS - please don't judge my white walls...we've been a little busy since we moved in to paint this one room yet...I'm getting there).

The next day was JOYFUL!  With the exception of a quick run to Target to look at their Christmas Clearence stuff, we staid in pajamas and played with all our new toys.  Including several new board games...Eleanor is OBSESSED with Telestrations - will you please come over and play with her??

 

 

And Oliver...well, Oliver slept!  A lot! 

New Year's Eve was MUCH more low key.  We had our friends over for some dinner and games...the kiddos celebrated at 8:30 and we played Cards Against Humanity into the New Year...what could be better?  I was in bed at 12:11!

 

So did you make any resolutions?  Personally, I hate New Year's Eve, so much pressure put on one day...but there is something magical about.  Something about wiping the slate clean and getting a fresh start. 

 

I don't know if I believe in resolutions, but I believe in new starts!  And this year...this is my year of being "normal".  2010 - 2014 have been the most crazy, most ridiculous, most memorable years of my life.  For the first time in FOREVER, I'm just me.  I don't want any major life events this year.  I just want to live in the now.  Today.  I want to be present for my children.  I want to be a wife to my husband.  I want to paint those plain walls.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!