Christmas this year was amazing and the best one John & I have had together to date! All of the activities leading up to Christmas, our trip to Kansas City, visiting with friends and family, the Christmas dinners, opening gifts, playing games.....were incredible! Don't get me wrong, it was a whirlwind and we were completely exhausted after it was over, but it is the absolute best kind of exhaustion. Tomorrow everyone heads back to school and we go back to our usual daily activities; which is super sad for me, but necessary I know. I'm already counting down the days to spring break!
I will let the pictures do most of the explaining as this post will be picture overload.
A few weeks before Christmas, I had to see an endodontist for a root canal. This sign was in his office and I thought it was hilarious! With all the dental work I've had done, this needs to be in my house!
The weekend before heading to KC, we had our very own Christmas here in IN. We opened presents, had a special breakfast and then went to see the Living Nativity and look at lights later that day.
Mellany was very specific about what she wanted to get John this year. When the kids as "why?" John's response is "because I'm the big boss". So, Mellany decided she wanted to get him a blue "I'm the big boss shirt". So, I hopped on the internet and thankfully found one that she liked and ordered it. She couldn't hardly wait to give it to him and I don't know that John has ever laughed at a gift so hard. It was such a sweet moment.
Johnny's big gift from us was this aircraft carrier
Charlie loved his Micro Machines car wash
And Mellany played with her cutie cars from Johnny all day
Once it started getting dark, we headed for Starbucks hot chocolate and the Living Nativity. I had a horrible time trying to get a picture without a glare on my glasses...
The day after opening presents we went to church then had brunch with the Okos crew, followed by a candy cane tour at McCords Candies. One of Lafayette's oldest businesses, McCords Candies is one of 5 stores in the United States that makes their own candy canes. So of course, this is a holiday must! You get to see how the candy canes are made (the same way they were made in 1912 with the exact same kettle!) then you get to shape your own. It was a great experience! (The store sells about 47,000 candy canes a year!)
Johnny got my phone...
Mellany and Johnny writing their letters to Santa. Mellany wrote hers out and then volunteered to help Johnny draw a picture of what he wanted since he can't write.
Johnny's Preschool Christmas Program
Mellany's Christmas Program
The boys did what boys do to pass the time until it started....
With her teacher, Mrs. Businger and BFF Charlotte
Our neighbors from our previous neighborhood moved to AZ in December. Our other neighbor Megan, Abbey and I had breakfast one morning to send her off. She and her sweet family (their kiddos were the sweetest!!) will be so missed! Any time I needed help with anything, Abbey was there--food, watching a kiddo, grabbing mail....you name it, it was done (half the time she did things for us without us even asking). It's not often that you come in contact with people/families like that and we were so fortunate to have been living next to them. Megan and I aren't sure how we are ever going to have meals prepared for our family without Abbey! So far they are enjoying AZ and have actually gotten some SNOW, so the kiddos are in heaven!
Kansas City her we come!!!!! The drive there and back were the best yet.....we stopped ONE time each way. It was awesome!!
"Home Alone" @ Nana's with Daxton
Charlie got my phone...
Christmas Eve @ Nana's
Mellany & Johnny loved Santa but Charlie wasn't a fan....at all....
Charlie also wasn't a fan of taking our annual "cousins in Christmas jammies pic"....at this point I think we were pretty lucky to get anyone to look at the camera....enjoy the chaos! lol
Milk & Cookies for Santa
Reindeer Food....Johnny didn't want to go out in the rain and Charlie was just still mad/upset/tired/sad/etc...
Christmas Morning @ Nana's
Christmas Day @ Gammy's!
Day after Christmas at Papa & Teresa's
2nd Annual Pheasant Hunt with the guys on my dad's side (minus Shane who couldn't make it this year)
Goofing off at Gammy's house
My mom got us "big kids" tickets to see "The Haygoods" on the Friday we were still in KC. It was a fantastic show and we really enjoyed the time together with no kiddos. Gammy did send us this update during the show....there's nothing better than a cousin sleepover at Gammy's house!
I was able to meet up with my high school bestie Audrey and her husband Joel. Audrey and I have been friends for over 20 years and I couldn't be more thankful for her. We don't get to talk often enough (the 10+ hour drive plus 6 kiddos between the two of us make it pretty difficult) so it was really nice having some time to catch up!!
Headed back home!! An hour on the road and I looked back to see all three kiddos snoozing! You know its been a good trip when you see that!
Spoiled. Rotten.
Part of the mess that we came home with....our family is spoiled for sure. Can you even find Charlie?! hahaha!
This year was a Lego Christmas. Each kid got several sets of legos, so they became the first items on the to-do list.
New Year's Eve @ the Okos home...countdown to 2019 (@9:30pm....shhhh....don't tell!)
Mixing up her slime
He is so proud of his Lego City Police Station....if you can't find him, he's definitely sitting here!
Whew! That's all folks!
Merry Christmas!!!
