christmas 2012

Happy New Years Eve!  It is with much sadness that I realize the holiday season is coming to an end.  Why is it that this point in time every year makes my heart hurt just a little?  We are having a rip roaring new year’s eve.  I have been in my jammies all day, we are having a taco bell feast for dinner and bets are on the table as to who will make it to midnight. :)

christmas was different this year…my dad’s absence was and is overwhelming at times.  That being said, i tried my best to be present…to be thankful for this wonderful life, this wonderful season.

we decided to do lignts on the outside of our house.  charlie has been asking for years and this year we finally bit the bullet and went for it.

We trimmed the tree. I thought seriously long and hard about getting a real tree this year, but opted not to.  Maybe next year.  Of course with trimming the tree comes a large hot chocolate with extra marshmallows.

we celebrated Christmas with the Thompson a little earlier this year but as usual it was a grand time.  mac was one of the narrators for the play, and charlie was a wise man.  there is talk about bringing back the talent show next year for the next generation…that could be interesting.  :)

once again we opted to build a gingerbread house.  i take the easy way out.  this house was pretty much assembled, we only had to decorate it.  I think our decorating skills are getting better and better each year. we incorporated some firsts into our traditions this year and due to their success, i hope we are able to incorporate them into our yearly tradition.  we attended the nutcracker at the kaufman center for the peforming arts.  this was our boys first experience with the fine arts and it was well received.

  

we also attended midnight mass at the cathedral.  the cathedral was beautifully yet simply decorated.  the music before and during the mass was beautiful.  I’m so happy we started our christmas celebration by attending this service and focusing on the reason we have this season.

  

we got home from mass and the boys had no problem getting to sleep.

Santa arrived

Christmas day we woke up about 6:30 and savored the arrival of Santa and just being with each other.  We had brunch for my mom, niece and nephew.  Later we went to Lawrence and spent the afternoon with some of the Thompson clan.

And with that Christmas day was over.  We spent time with my side of the family on  Thursday and Friday.  Many good times catching up and then traipsing all over Kansas City to entertain the kids.  Trying to go Fritz’s at Crown Center with 20 people on the Friday after Christmas may not have been the smartest idea but we made it work.  :)