Christmas 2021

After weeks of preparation and excitement , Christmas 2021 blew by and it was over before I knew it.  Christmas stresses me out so I tried to prepare as much as I could ahead of time and we ordered catering for dinner this year.  That helped and I think I'll continue to see where else I can cut corners each year.  I'll get there eventually.  However, in the midst of all of the mom anxiety, the kids didn't miss a beat and they had a very memorable Christmas so I guess I did something right.

I did not take enough pictures this year.  I only remembered to snap a few here and there.  That's something I'll have to do better at next year for sure because I wish I had more pictures of them with their favorite gifts and we forgot to take a single group photo.  Next year.

All in all, it was a great day that we got to spend as a family of five for the majority of and then my dad, Darby, Bill and Finley arrived later in the afternoon.  It was fun to help Finley ring in her first Christmas.  We missed Mary as we had scheduling conflicts between her family and ours but we are hoping to see her in a couple of weeks as they travel down South for the winter.

The highlight of the day was about midway through when everyone had opened all their gifts and things slowed down long enough for everyone to sit and enjoy, relax and take a deep breath before another celebration ensued.  I cherish those peaceful moments and it's my goal to find more of them each year during the holidays. 

                         

Mairin was very excited about her new Doc McStuffins underwear and this little grocery store.  She has been scanning groceries for days and has enlisted Nolan and Quinn as baggers and restockers.

He finally got his coveted iPad.  He said it was all he wanted and it was the best gift ever.  Now we just need to make sure he uses it appropriately and doesn't get into any trouble with it.

Quinn got a new American Girl doll, Courtney who is from 1986.  Courtney was her favorite gift but I missed a picture of her opening it.  Second best, she loved this Lego set and she spent a couple of hours intently putting it together in the afternoon.

The annual cheese board.

Boys and their football cards.

                    

My dad and Mary got Mairin this cute new bike.  It's just a little too big for her right now but it will be perfect come spring and summer.

Finley's first Christmas!

Exhausted is an understatement.  Awake at 5a.m. means she was sound asleep on me around 8p.m.  The poor kid didn't even wake up when I took her upstairs and changed her into her pajamas.

                     

My dad spent the night and the next morning we all got up and the kids got to spend some quality time exploring their new things while my dad and I worked on getting my new MacBook up and running.

                     

The girls now both have the star light projector that they like to sleep with.  Quinn also got a sleep mask for Christmas so she looks super cute sleeping under the stars in her eye mask.

                           

Even Nolan is enjoying the eye mask.