Christmas Joy

In the words of Isabella "That Christmas was so fast."

It was fast, but it was good.  It always seems like a mad dash at the end. Wrapping gifts, making gifts, making cookies, planning dinners, cleaning messes, continuing traditions, and all the while trying to really just be in the moment.  Not in a cloud of dust around the moments, but actually fully engaged in them.

Ryan turned the big 3-0 two days before Christmas.  Birthdays are always exciting around this house and since the kids knew what Ryan's present was, understood that they had to keep it a secret, and got to actually paint the box it came in, the excitement was at its peak.  Another year older and another year that we are so thankful for him.

   "Hey! You're not supposed to watch me steal Grandpaw's ice cream!"

The activity hasn't slowed down since the 23rd and just now I am finally cleaning it all up, organizing my mind and my house, going through pictures and kicking myself (again and again) for walking out of the house on Christmas morning as my camera and flip camera sat warmly on my dryer.

Christmas eve we had our traditional dinner with the family at my mom's.  It's always Italian and it's always too much food.  The kids put on their pj's, played around the Christmas tree, read stories, and played with the greatest toy of all time: baby Zoey.  They should just wrap her up and sit her on a shelf because she is seriously that popular.

We're in the season of bribing to create pictures.  I don't know how, but it just happened.  You try to pose a bunch of kids and still be able to step away to actually snap the picture and suddenly, bribes just start pouring out of your mouth.  I'm not sure of the long term affects, but it so works right now.

At almost exactly one year apart, Quinn plops herself down, pats the floor and whines or grunts until someone puts Zoey in her lap. Love. It.

 This is IT.  These are prime ages and I freaking love it.  Four and a half, three, two and a half, one and a half, and almost 6 months old (with one more on the way...not mine) is pretty cool. They love each other, they like each other, and it all makes for one very happy, very blessed family.

We did the whole 'feed the reindeer and feed Santa' routine when we got home and for once our kids excitedly went to bed.  And I'm not gonna lie, they went to sleep faster than they ever have.  That old saying...if only every day were Christmas....It's true. Pretty true.  Aunt Kate stayed with us that night since there was no room at the Inn (aka mom's house) and I won't take credit (or give Ryan credit) because she put the older kids to sleep. Maybe that had something to do with it...

 Reindeer food on the deck is much easier for the reindeer to eat, you know.  Just a broom and a couple of seconds, reindeer food gone.

 "Oh, mommy and the big bro and sis are reading a story. I think I'll steal this cookie, dunk it in some milk and call it a snack." One Santa cookie down, two to go.

The level of excitement the next morning was hard to measure.  I was trying to compete with a four year old. Declan was pretty mad (and therefore, crying) because he was woken up by Quinn begging to get out of her crib and let's just remember that our mornings are pretty clingy around here. Christmas morning doesn't change that. 
They opened their stockings first and after they finished, Declan pulled all of his stuff into a pile and said "Look what I have guys. I have a lot of stuff!"  They definitly thought they were finished. Isabella even asked about all the things that she asked Santa for, surprised that they hadn't appeared.  They were so sweet, so thankful, and so precious.  It was a morning for the books (or the blog...), for sure.

Each year, Kate has written the kids a letter (from Santa). This year she included a special note to Declan from the "Top Elf Chef" with a recipe attached.  A sweet, little tradition and a throwback to something she remembered and treasured as a chid.

Morning. Bright and early. Pretty darn early.

 This cell phone was meant to replace mine.  No cell phone will ever replace mine.

Quinn and Declan were all about taking breaks to just chill.  And Quinn is a major copycat right now. Major.

 If I could love this kid anymore than I already do....

And for the grand finale.  Santa got lost in the house and accidently put two more presents in the living room.  Silly Santa.  And Declan is still talking about Santa being lost. If there was ever a literal kid--his name would be Declan. 

 Nothing better than an eco-friendly chef.  He's gonna ride this bike right to his restaurant.

Quinn staged this one all by herself. Her potty has become her new chair. Fine by me if it gets the job done!

And then enters the lull.  At this point, it was only 8:30.  Luckily there are pictures floating around from the rest of the day. I just have to get my hands on them.  We were very busy as we spent the rest of the morning at mom's, then on to Ryan's parents, and then his grandparents, and back to mom's for dinner.  It was a full day but it was full in more ways than just being busy. It was full of love, full of memories, of laughter and silliness, hugs, kisses, and late naps, holding babies and kids playing.  It was very full, indeed.

And now, when we nurse before bed, not only do we have to find a place for Quinn, but also baby Bella because she must be all wrapped up in my baby's arms.