Meet The Early's: Christmas Vacation

For our Christmas Eve we did our annual trip to Stroud's for dinner. When we finished dinner, we headed back home to finish icing cookies that we had made earlier that day for Santa. Once the kids had lost interest in decorating I went ahead and finished the rest of them while they began digging under the tree for their sibling presents, and the one present we let them open the night before (pajamas).
Briley had Atticus this year and she gave him a lamb that is filled with lavender. You can warm it in the microwave or cool it in the freezer. He did not have the reaction she was looking for, but I'm sure she will just adopt the lamb if he doesn't. Atticus gave Briley a kitchen science kit that has fun experiments you can do with things that are already in the kitchen. Baylor received a construction kit from Finley, and Finley received floam and lip balm from Baylor. They all seemed very excited about their gifts.

Atticus was in love with his Mickey Mouse in a box, Briley got her Zoomer Chimp, Baylor was excited about the puppet theatre, but a little upset that he didn't get powers. Santa wrote a nice letter explaining that he doesn't have the ability to give powers; that comes from within us. We all have powers, we just have to figure out what that is. Finley loved everything. She loved her new dress up shoes, babydoll, and all she opened in between.

After the cookies were set out, and T'was the Night Before Christmas was read, we all went to bed and anxiously awaited Santa's arrival. Briley had Andy set up her go pro camera to catch Santa. Unfortunately he must have came after the camera shut off because we did not catch him.

Briley woke up at 4:30 a.m. and then preceded to wake up Finley and Baylor. Andy and I told them all to go back to bed because we were not getting up that early. They went back to their room, and eventually fell back to sleep until 7:00. Andy went downstairs to turn on the fire(on the tv), Christmas music was started, and then we let them break through the paper.After we had breakfast, and they played for a little bit, Andy packed up the car to make his way to Kirksville with the kids. I finished the clean up, and went to the airport to get my sister. Once I picked her up we made our way back home. It was so great that she came home for Christmas this year. It just doesn't feel right when she is not there for Christmas.

That night Santa showed up at the Early house to the excitement of some, and hesitation from others.

Next we went over to Rick and Lisa to do Christmas with them. We had soup, appetizers, and treats to munch on. After awhile we opened presents, and then it was time to get back home so that we could change our clothes before Midnight Mass.

Midnight Mass was as beautiful as it always is. Briley, Finley, and Atticus stayed up for the whole mass, but Baylor fell asleep before it had even started. Lola and Finley danced to the music, and it was so cute. I should have captured it, but I knew it probably wouldn't have showed up very well.

The next morning we woke up around 8:00 a.m. for another exciting morning. The kids opened their stockings while we waited for the Farwell family to get there. Once everyone was ready, the doors were opened and the fun craziness began.It was again, a wonderful Christmas full of memories. Finley was excited about her princess castle, and has been playing with it from the moment we got home. Baylor was very excited about his Paw Patrol zoomed, but he honestly has been playing with his super heroes in his bat cave the most. Atticus really was excited about his set of cars while Briley has been busy with her Ozobot. Andy's Mom made a book of past vacations, and those are by far my favorite gifts.

After breakfast we went to my Dad's to open presents with him. He and Amity gave the kids gymnastics lessons that start next week. I''m so excited to see how that goes for them. He also gave them each a board game that look like fun. Some are classics while others are ones I have heard good things about. We gave my Dad a ping pong table this year for Christmas because he had mentioned his Grandparents having one, and how he would like to have one for the kids to play with at his house. I really didn't expect the reaction we got from him opening it. He was speechless, and close to tears. I never would have thought he would have been that happy about it, but I'm glad he was so excited. We set it up, and matches began.

Later that afternoon we finally got out of our pjs and into my Mom's Christmas sweaters for dinner. Everyone wore tacky Christmas sweaters, and those that did not have one, borrowed one from my Mom. Such a fun night, and of course delicious food.

That night after opening sibling/cousin gifts, we went to my Mom's to spend the night with one more Santa visit in the morning. It was another great Christmas morning!

We got Jeff a fishing lure that was engraved with "love your fishing buddies" and then it listed the kid's names.

Once we opened the gifts, I started the prime rib that turned out really good. I had never done a prime rib before so I was a little nervous about it, but it came out great...or at least some thought so. Jeff thought it was to rare for him.

We stayed in Kirksville until Thursday, and then we made our way back with Amity leaving on Friday afternoon. We went to see the movie Sing, got some mexican, played with cousins, and a lot of laser tag before coming home. We took Amity to the Prairiefire Museum on Friday morning before she had to leave for the airport. It was the last day of our membership, and I think we are not going to renew it this year. Time to try something new I think.