Well, here’s a bright, big hello to you! I sure have missed this beautiful space during this past week, but it was such a great holiday (and a nice little blog break), and I truly enjoyed every bit of it with my wonderful family. Here’s a little recap of our Christmas vacation.
Last Tuesday, we ventured out to my hometown after M got off of work. We braved the Houston traffic, and surprisingly, made it to Port Lavaca in no time. Once we were reunited with the familia, we put Charlotte to sleep, left her with some of her most trusted babysitters (my aunt and uncle), and went to have some drinks at our fave spot, Shellfish. Here, the nicest, kindest thing happened. We had already eaten dinner prior to our trip, but M was a little hungry still and decided he wanted something from the menu (other than what you see below). But in true Griswold fashion, the kitchen had just closed. Now this is what I love about small towns. My mom knew our waitress because the waitress’ uncle is someone my mom knows from way back. Long story short, the waitress went into the kitchen, scrounged up what she could, and whipped M up a salad, because she just couldn’t leave him disappointed. How nice is that?!
Wednesday, Christmas Eve, we had breakfast at my Momo’s house for her famous breakfast tacos. While we were there, my aunt and uncle, who are living in Saudi Arabia for the time-being, had a new stove sent over to my grandparents’ house. It was a huge surprise to them, and they were blown away. Prior to that we lounged around, talked to my aunts and uncles, my cousins, and let the babies play. I also snapped this picture of one of my favorite ornaments on my Momo’s tree. She has some of the best wooden little ornaments, and I remember this precious little gem from when I was a little girl. These decorations have always been my favorite.
The day seemed to fly by once we left my Momo’s house. We went to see my dad for a little bit, and then it was time for Charlotte’s nap. Once she woke up, it was time to get ready for mass. We went to the early one because there is just no way we could do Midnight Mass with a toddler. Church was beautiful. Of course I had to entertain Charlotte for a bit in the nursery, because although she was a happy camper, she was a loud one. I love being in my home parish no matter how much things change because that place is just home to me.
After mass, we went to take our yearly photos by the tree. Last year, Charlotte and I were sick and we didn’t get to do any dressy pictures because we weren’t able to go to mass. I was so happy that we were all well and able to participate fully in all of the festiveness. M tested out the camera on me, and since I rarely get my picture taken solo these days, I thought it needed documenting here.
But my favorites are of the rest of my fam bam.
LOVE.
Even Chapman made a cameo.
We then tried really hard to get this little girl to stay still to take a picture with her 2014 Christmas bear, but she wasn’t having it. She’ll do selfies for days, but try to get her to pose, and she is just not about it. This is the best we got. Her little face. Love her to pieces.
After our photo shoot, we changed and went to another aunt and uncle’s house (I have four aunts in case you have forgotten or are new around here). Every year, we do appetizers and drinks (mainly tamales or tamale sandwiches) on Christmas Eve, and we play lots of games, sing songs, and dance because we can’t stop, won’t stop. Then, once the babies (and men) go to bed, us ladies of the family stay up to wrap presents. For as long as I can remember, my mom and my aunts wait until Christmas Eve to wrap all of their gifts. It’s like a gift wrapping marathon until the wee hours of the morning. Thankfully, I had almost every gift of ours wrapped, but it’s just the being with each other that is the main thing.
Then it was Christmas morning. Santa came! This is how Christmas morning works for us: all 20 something of us pile into the main room of whatever house we’re at, open stockings first, then we pass out gifts and go to town. This year, we actually had some kind of order to our madness. Since there are now three great-grandbabies, we let them open gifts first, then the grandkids (yep, at 33, I still get gifts from all of my aunts and uncles, and it is still so much fun), and then the “adults,” aka my mom and her brothers and sisters, open their gifts.
This year was a ton of fun! Charlotte was able to tear open her gifts herself, and it was the cutest thing to watch. We opened her stocking first, then she opened all 500 hundred of the rest of her gifts. I know Christmas isn’t all about the gifts, but I love the sentiment behind it. The intention of giving a gift is taken straight from the Three Wise Men who took them to baby Jesus. However, the biggest gift given that day is from God who gave us His only Son that holy night. Because of the love we have for Him and the excitement that is the birth of our Savior, I love being able to give to others in remembrance of that, and I know my family does, too. We definitely shower each other with love and the gifts are just a bonus.
Here’s a glimpse into our Christmas morning.
My favorite!
The sweetest. My baby loves to share!
All of the great-grandbabies having a ball.
And below, here’s a look at some of my loot. Writing my gift guide for her was one of the smartest things I ever did. Thanks, blog. My family really knew how to spoil me.
Oh, and for the record, most of my family does not do makeup on Christmas morning. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
One very special moment that we had after opening gifts was being able to Skype our Saudi Arabia-living family members. My Aunt Rita is the hostess with the mostess and the greatest entertainer in our family, so it’s been really hard to fill her shoes. We all miss her and my Uncle Ray like crazy, but thank goodness for the internet! If you ever wonder why some of my family posts are the longest things ever, she’s partly to blame. I like to keep her informed. ;) And I’m long winded, but hey, you do what you have to do.
The rest of the day, we were in relaxation mode. In the evening, we had our Christmas dinner and it was amazing. Ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, peas, corn, and rolls. Yummy! Charlotte looked extra cute Christmas night, don’t you think? Then we played more games and sang more songs.
Another tradition my mom has on Christmas Day is placing baby Jesus into his manager in the Nativity. Charlotte had fun with that. I think this picture was taken on Friday, though.
Friday, M went golfing with my daddy, and then we spent Christmas with my him. Charlotte was again looking as cute as ever. I shared a few of these pics on Instagram. ;)
Saturday, the weather changed and turned into a freezing time. Good thing Little Miss received a ton of new, warm clothes. She was rocking her new wardrobe.
We hadn’t planned on staying Saturday night, but I’m glad we did. We played Cards Against Humanity, and it was hilarious.
Then it was packing time on Sunday. Charlotte just stood around and looked cute. She actually had a double ear infection (an ear infection in both ears) the entire time we were in Port Lavaca and is still nursing a bad cold and cough, but she was such a joy all week.
Then it was back on the road we went! She cried for an hour, then slept for an hour and a half. She was so exhausted. She stayed up past her bed time every single night we were there, so I think it definitely caught up with her.
Once we got home, Santa had left behind her big gift since it didn’t fit on his sleigh. She is in love with this thing!
This picture makes me laugh though. She put all of her Frozen babies in the car with her, and she’s like, “Excuse me, Elsa. You’re crowding me.” Ha!
Sunday night was spent unpacking and getting settled back in to our home routine. And I watched Downton Abbey‘s Christmas special while drinking some hot tea out of my new favorite mug. It was so good! Both things.
And that was our week! We now officially have no room in our home for any more toys or books, and Charlotte’s closet has been purged and revamped. But what’s most important is that we have so many new, beautiful memories with all of our family, and I am so grateful.
We still have Christmas with M’s mom this weekend, and I’m looking forward to it! I’ll also be keeping my Christmas decorations up until the Epiphany so if you see my decor on my social media, know I’m not lazy. I’m just in no rush to take it all down.
So what’s been going on with you, sister? Are you recuperating from your Christmas holiday, too? I hope you all filled your heart to the brim. Now it’s almost a New Year, but I’ll get to that tomorrow. ;) Talk soon, girlfriend!
Sounds like an amazing time with family!! :) Charlotte looks ADORABLE in all of her little christmas outfits, and her red hunters… SWOON! :)
We always skype with family on Christmas too, how great is technology?! :)
It was! I really have no complaints. Lots of new fun memories were made, and I am so happy about that. :) I love her little boots, too! Michael picked them out and ordered them, and I was super shocked when he told me he did. He’s more of a “blogger” than I am. Lol.
Technology is so awesome! So thankful for it! ;)
Sounds like an amazing time with family!! :) Charlotte looks ADORABLE in all of her little christmas outfits, and her red hunters… SWOON! :)
We always skype with family on Christmas too, how great is technology?! :)
This looks like so much fun! You guys are the cutest in your matching Christmas pjs, and I absolutely LOVE that burgundy skirt!
Aww, thanks, Megan! I loved the skirt, too! It’s a Target find. :) I hope you had the best holiday, and happy New Year to you and your family!
What a wonderful, delightful Christmas!
I just love all the photos and the special moments. Charlotte is a gem– I just love that she’s in her coupe car with all the dolls LOL.
You have me super curious about breakfast tacos. What are they like? What’s in them? Hmmmm.
Happy New Year my friend.
Wishing you many blessings in the year to come.
xoxo
Thanks, Jennifer! I am such a photo overloader on the blog, but it’s my keepsake for Charlotte. ;) And the car photo is quite possibly my favorite. Lol.
The breakfast tacos my Momo makes usually consist of potato and egg, or potato/bacon/egg. This time she also made chorizo and egg, too. She is the only one who makes them as good as she does. It’s definitely her thing. ;)
Happy New Year to you and your family as well! Blessings always!
This looks like so much fun! You guys are the cutest in your matching Christmas pjs, and I absolutely LOVE that burgundy skirt!
What a wonderful, delightful Christmas!
I just love all the photos and the special moments. Charlotte is a gem– I just love that she's in her coupe car with all the dolls LOL.
You have me super curious about breakfast tacos. What are they like? What's in them? Hmmmm.
Happy New Year my friend.
Wishing you many blessings in the year to come.
xoxo
It was! I really have no complaints. Lots of new fun memories were made, and I am so happy about that. :) I love her little boots, too! Michael picked them out and ordered them, and I was super shocked when he told me he did. He's more of a "blogger" than I am. Lol.
Technology is so awesome! So thankful for it! ;)
Aww, thanks, Megan! I loved the skirt, too! It's a Target find. :) I hope you had the best holiday, and happy New Year to you and your family!
Thanks, Jennifer! I am such a photo overloaded on the blog, but it's my keepsake for Charlotte. ;) And the car photo is quite possibly my favorite. Lol.
The breakfast tacos my Momo makes usually consist of potato and egg, or potato/bacon/egg. This time she also made chorizo and egg, too. She is the only one who makes them as good as she does. It's definitely her thing. ;)
Happy New Year to you and your family as well! Blessings always!