Christmas 2021
I feel like we just flew into a tornado and got spit out the other side 3 days later.. but it was really the best kind of tornado. The kids have been off all week and it has been so fun to relax and stay in pajamas for the better part of every day! We went sledding and made cookies for Santa and my heart is filled with happiness when my time is spent with them!
Friday was Christmas eve. Brian didn't have to work and it was a super slow start to our day (which was so nice!) We got to go to Brian's parents house for our Christmas eve traditions and although Becky's Family and Lena's family were all sick with the flu, it was still good to be together over zoom. I wish they could have been with us in person and I know our kids missed their cousins so much but we made the best of it.
It was SO fun to have Grandma Hawryluk there too. She really does just light up the whole room when shes in it and we are grateful for her! Despite the cousins not all being under one roof, we still managed to do the nativity and it was still so cute.
It was so much fun for our kids to play with Gwen and Arthur. They are so cute and we all just adore them!
Mom and Dad Reed made such a delicious turkey and ham dinner (and even delivered it to the missing families!!) and it was SO good! Nothing like a home cooked meal from your parents! Everyone was stuffed and happy!
Grandpa Reed even got the boys to work on his amazing lego nativity set and it kept them busy and so happy! Love this so much.
We did gifts together as well. Thank heavens for technology!
My sweet nephew, Reed, even spent his own money and got Kobe an awsome chicken toy. Kobe was so happy! Reed, you are the sweetest, we love you buddy!
I have always admired at what great "gift-givers" Brians parents are. They are so thoughtful for each of their individual grandkids and each and every one of them got something that they LOVED! Penny was so happy with all her girly stuff and barbie and the boys NEARLY DIED in excitement when they opened up their speed cubes and jerseys. There was SO much laughter and massive smiles watching those kids open up their christmas gifts from Grandma and Grandpa.
We watched Grandma Hawryluk open her gifts too. She's so cute and was so happy.
And then we all gave Mom and Dad their gift. All the siblings got together this year and got them another adventure! This year, a zipline adventure! I can't wait for them to do it and hear all about it!!
We are SO grateful that we could be with family this year. I think my heart would have shattered if we didn't see family again this year. I just have so much gratitude for this sweet bonus family of mine.
We got home and had our annual Christmas Eve sleepover in our room! We watched Fred Clause, had chips and popcorn and enjoyed being together.
We left cookies for Santa and hurried to sleep.
The kids will tell you that they got up at 6:30am BUT in reality, they got up at 2am, 3:30am, 4:15am, 5am, 6am AND THEN actually got our of their physical beds at 6:30am. My eyes felt like they were bleeding but we just had to get up and see the magic that Santa had left.
Sweet Kobe was SOOOOOOOO excited! He waited patiently at his stocking and was being such a good boy. Once we brought it down, his excitement EXPLODED! Literally. We all had to stop and let him calm down because he actually gave himself what sounded like a full blown ashma attack. LOL He got WAY too excited about all his bones and toys, I think he nearly had a heart attack. It was so funny.
Santa spoiled our kids this year. Penny got the twins she was begging for...
Bentley got the Raptors flags he really wanted for his bedroom...
And Carter got a couple of really tricky speed cubes....
Watching them rip things open, scream with excitement and show eachother their stuff is honestly such a fun part of parenting! I LOVE seeing how happy and excited they are. We finished opening gifts, ate some bacon and eggs for breakfast and got ready for our day.
We spent the afternoon/evening at my parents house. This Christmas was so healing. To be together, under one roof, blocking out the rest of the world, the politics and constant government banter. It was exactly what I needed. I am so happy it all went as well as it did. My Mom did such a beautiful job decorating her tree and making the table for Christmas Dinner. I am grateful for my parents and the effort they always put into big events like these.
The kids all opened their gifts from Grandma and Grandpa and just like the day before, they were all spoiled and so happy!
It was SO MUCH FUN having all these cousins together again. Brian and I hosted the cousin white elephant again this year and I have to admit, it is one of my favourite things to do for them. It so fun. There really wasn't much stealing happening and I think most of them were happy. Just simply, a bunch of cuties!
This Christmas was exactly what the soul needed after being separated from family last Christmas. I never want to do that again. Christmas is about Christ. The center of Christ is family. I am grateful for ours, no matter how sticky and messy it gets.. family is forever.
Merry Merry Christmas.
We spent the afternoon/evening at my parents house. This Christmas was so healing. To be together, under one roof, blocking out the rest of the world, the politics and constant government banter. It was exactly what I needed. I am so happy it all went as well as it did. My Mom did such a beautiful job decorating her tree and making the table for Christmas Dinner. I am grateful for my parents and the effort they always put into big events like these.