TGIF
Happy Friday! Has it been a really long week for anyone else? I’m pretty excited to be heading out tonight with some twin moms for our holiday party.
Speaking of holidays, I wanted to share a little about our Thanksgiving, and also show/tell you about how we’re getting ready for Christmas.
Thanksgiving
We had a really nice Thanksgiving. As you’ll remember, I wanted to not get to stressed about the holiday, as you can see in this POST. So, the day went mostly as planned.
We watched some of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We saw a teaser that Thomas the Train would be in it, so we not-so-patiently waited for him to make his appearance. By the time they finally showed him, which was for about 2 seconds, we had to get ready to leave. Since I already had all the kids clothes picked out (and mine too!) getting ready was pretty easy. We then headed over to my In-laws’ house for snacks/lunch.
When we got there, the boys watched a little racing on TV, then played cars and had a few snacks.
We then headed to my parent’s house for dinner. All the cousins played together (my brother has 4 girls,) we ate dinner, drank some wine, and fed the kids lots of whipped cream with a little pumpkin pie.
We then dressed them in jammies, got them home, and I went out shopping. Yes, I was that crazy lady out at Target and the mall at 10 pm. It wasn’t very busy, and I got most of my Christmas shopping done, so I consider that a win.
Getting ready for Christmas
On Saturday late afternoon/early evening, we started setting up our Christmas tree forest. You see, we don’t just have one fake plastic tree, we have a whole bunch….in every color. Most have lights, some are sparkly, one is a pink Hello Kitty Tree, and none of them look real at all. We all love them.
Now, this is the first year that we don’t have a gate around the trees, so we didn’t put up any of the ornaments. There are lots of plastic ball ornaments, but none of the breakable, cute ones I’ve been collecting since I was little. Maybe in another couple years we will be able to trust the twins with those. Maybe.
We also hung our stockings over our fireplace, got our advent calendar out, and got our books out for our Countdown-to-Christmas.
The boys all had a lot of fun decorating, and wearing Santa hats. My oldest even found some cotton to make a beard.
We still have plans to drive around to see the holiday lights, make a gingerbread train (Dad is making it after Mom made a total disaster gingerbread house last year,) and watch more Christmas movies.
Home for the Holiday?
As for Christmas this year, I’m not too sure of our plans for the actual day.
We always spend Christmas Eve at my Mom’s, and this year, we’re going to go to my husband’s family party later in the night. On Christmas morning, we open presents at our house from Santa, then usually head to my husband’s cousin’s house. This year, his cousin has family from the other side in town, so they are not hosting.
While I enjoy getting to see everyone, I’m thinking it might be really nice to just stay home this year. That way, the kids can stay in jammies, play with their toys, and maybe even take a nap…since I know that we will all be up at 6 am excited to see what Santa brought.
It would just be so nice for everyone to come to us, but I guess we’ll just play it by ear for now.
So, what are your plans for Christmas this year….since it’s coming up in about 2 weeks?!?!
I was at the parade and Thomas is usually near the end. Next year, DVR it 🙂
Yes this feels like one of the longest weeks I have ever seen. I am glad its Friday
oh my goodness! Look at all of those trees! How fun is that?
I love the Christmas tree forest! So fun!
Love the photos, especially the boys in the Santa hats! And I’m with you – this week felt like it took forever but I’m guessing the next couple of weeks will fly by 🙂 Happy Friday!
I have to say, your Christmas tree forest is probably the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. I love it. 🙂 It sounds like you guys had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating – Thank you for sharing!
What a cute Christmas tree forest! That looks so fun! I am so unprepared this year for Christmas. Did you say 2 weeks? Yikes!!
Looks like you guys are all set for Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful and joyful holiday.
I love your tree forest! so fun! And I bet you will have a wonderful Christmas just relaxing at home! 🙂
love your stockings!
What great pics! Your boys are so cute, and I love your Christmas tree forest. – Trish
My boys and i put up the tree yesterday. It is starting to feel like Christmas.
I’m just visiting my family for Christmas, nothing special – just the same thing we do every year. It’s pretty chilled out for us!
How can you not enjoy that! It’s always a lovely time with the family. Congratulations for almost completing you shopping list too!
Love these pictures, Shann! I’m gonna visit my family in Maryland for Christmas. I haven’t done that in years so it should be interesting lol.
this is reminding me that should probably figure out what my plans are for christmas. they are different now that i live on the opposite side of the country from most of my family. where i live it’s me and my grandpa and an aunt that lives about an hour away. i’m sure we will go out to eat and just relax. the stockings you hung up are so fun!
You have such a beautiful family. I know y’all holidays are filled with fun with your boys. I enjoyed you photos as well as your post. Happy Holidays to you all 🙂
Alexis | http://www.everythingandlex,wordpress.com
Thank you! Happy Holidays to you too.
Hi Shann,
Thanks for sharing 🙂 Enjoyed hearing about your holidays!!
It sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Our plans for Christmas are not set yet either. We do Christmas gifts with my parents at their house on Christmas eve and then come home and watch the Polar Express. Past that, I’m not sure.
Your kiddos are just so cute! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you!
We’ll be spending Christmas eve with my mother in law, then driving three hours to be with my family on Christmas. That’s what we always do, but one day I think it would be really nice to just stay home.
Yes. It’s not that I don’t love being with family, it would just be nice to relax and not have to drive anywhere.
I love your christmas tree forest! What a great idea! Sounds like you’re in for a wonderful holiday! We’ve been fighting sickness all week. I’m hoping it’ll pass before then so I can get into the spirit myself!
Oh no! Feel better!
I love your photo’s! I bet the boys are super excited this year!
We’ll be staying at home this holiday 🙂 cooking and spending time with kids
Your boys are so adorable, I bet they are looking forward to christmas day 🙂 Great photos!
What a lovely family you have and I hope that you have a good Christmas.
I love all of these photos and that Christmas tree forest is adorable!!
I’m jealous of your Christmas plans! It’s a gift to live close to family. 🙂 We’re driving from Georgia to Massachusetts to Illinois, then back to Georgia. It’ll be a solid 5 days of driving. (!!) But getting to see both sets of grandparents will be worth it. Merry Christmas, Shann!
Wow. That is a lot of driving. And you’re right…living near Grandparents is a blessing. Merry Christmas to you too. 🙂
How sweet! Love your post and your Christmas decor! – Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading. 🙂
Aw, such cute photos! We will be out at family’s for Christmas Eve and home for Christmas, yay!
Nice. Have a great one!
We haven’t celebrated Christmas but love your traditions. And kids look so cuteeee
Thank you!
I love your sweet little family! The elf family picture is too cute!
Thank you so much 🙂
I love Christmas time.
I love your Merry & bright Christmas. I went without ornaments this year, too… But then I killed our tree- sooooo….??? we did Christmas with my hubs’ family today so we don’t have to split the holidays this year! Who hoo!
Oh no! Your tree! That’s why we don’t get a real one 😉 Sounds like you will have a great Christmas 🙂
You weren’t kidding about the forest. You really do have one over there!
Hee hee. It grows every year.
It’s going to be a very busy Christmas for you guys. We spend Christmas eve at home. Christmas lunch, we’ll be at my mom in law’s and Christmas dinner will be at my parents’ house.
Nice. Your Christmas day sounds busy too…but fun!
Happy Friday, Happy Sunday and a Merry Christmas to you and yours!
What a Cute family!! I love your tree farm!! Merry Christmas.
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you too!
Hey Hi Shann, I loved all the cute pictures of kids. Well this year, we are planning our Christmas in Florida. I am really very excited for it. Thanks for sharing this beautiful post. And Yeah, I love your Christmas forest. 🙂
Thank you Anamika! Can’t wait to hear about your Christmas.
I am so in love with those stockings! Glad you’re getting some R&R 🙂
Thank you!
How fun to have ALL THOSE TREES! I love that!!
Thank you! It’s fun. 🙂
Obsessed with those stockings!
I love your Christmas tree forest! We always have a very busy Christmas eve and day, it is so fun but sometimes staying home in PJ’s sounds amazing!
Agreed. Thank you!
Wow you are all set for Christmas! Happy holidays!
Thank you! Happy Holidays to you!
I love hanging out with my MOMs. We always “get” each other and have a blast just being. 🙂