Christmas 2012

We are slowly saying goodbye to Christmas 2012 around here.   
This was the year of endless Christmases.   When you don't live by family, Christmas can go on and on! 

 {This is the longest post in the history of blogging, full of tons of photos of my kids and not enough of their mommy and daddy, but there's your warning, Christmas photo dump ahead}

We had our first Christmas celebration with my parents before we left for our trip back East. 

We headed to Georgia and as soon as we arrived, we met up with the whole family for a southern dinner and then went straight to Atlanta's Botanical Gardens for their Christmas Lights.  It was cold, but so fun and the kids loved it.  And they were troopers after flying all day!

The BEST part of the night was cousin Christian teaching Lucca and Jackson how to break dance.  What I should have taken a photo of was the crowd that gathered to watch these kids dance!!!  It was so awesome.

 

 

 

The next night we went ice skating in Centennial Park.  Also, freeeeezing, but Lucca LOVED her first time ice-skating with Daddy.  Watching them skate around and around was the sweetest (and funniest!!!) thing I've ever seen in my life.  Rustin did such a good job with her.  She only slipped once and that was because she demanded he let go of her hand.  She quickly held on tight to Daddy's hand after that for the rest of the time :)

Mimi & Papa's house never disappoints and Mimi had it decorated beautifully for our arrival!  The kids rooms were even decorated, to every last detail and it's something Lucca is sure to remember forever.  I think every day we were there, Lucca was wearing a different princess dress.  On Christmas Eve, she was Snow White...

 

Decorating Christmas cookies! 

The piano is where the kids always gravitate.  Sidenote. 2013: Must. get. a. piano.

 After cookie decorating, we went Christmas caroling in the neighborhood.  Mimi outfitted everyone with scarves, handed out recorders & jingle bells to the kids and off we went.   One neighbor came out in their robe, one neighbor came home from walking their dog as we were standing on their porch, two neighbors weren't home, and one lady was actually home, dressed, AND liked our songs :) 

 Lucca was SO EXCITED to ring the doorbells. 

Setting out milk & cookies and a note for Santa on Christmas Eve , and going to bed verrrry excited! 

And then the real fun began.  These two.  In the garage for hours, putting together toys. Well, two toys. A horse and a doll crib.  For hours.  Until 2AM actually.  And then the work really got done when me and Mimi went out to the garage to see what all the laughter was about.  Don't tell anyone, but if it weren't for a handy wife, that horse still wouldn't have his back legs attached...

And finally, CHRISTMAS MORNING!  Santa came!!!
For Lucca, it was all things fairy princess, doll, Cinderella, anything that screams three year old girl, and for Jack Stone, it was all about cars and trains! And Elmo!  Our dude loves Elmo.

We had the best time.  The kids came home with a million memories, thankfully not only about presents, but memories with family, friendships with cousins and a grasp of what the true meaning of the Christmas season is all about, thanks to Papa and his message to the kids on Christmas day.  

2012 -- The merriest of Christmases indeed!!