Merry Christmas!

OK, I know it's January 17th, 2014.  But due to my ridiculous lack of blogging, I am going to pretend it is December 25th, 2013 today.  Just for a few minutes.  Let's relive the magic of Christmas.  Oh, and I was also a complete slacker on pictures.  But, we'll not pay any attention to that.


Merry Christmas!  After a month's countdown on our advent calendar*, Christmas morning finally arrived!  We all woke up way too early to gifts from Santa!  Thank you Santa for being so generous and kind! 

More on Christmas Day in a moment...

Christmas Eve is possibly more enjoyable for me than Christmas Day.  We have traditions in our family on Christmas Eve that I absolutely cherish.  I also tend to find a peaceful calm on Christmas Eve that is needed after the busy hustle of Christmas activities, shopping, and anxiety.   We always kick of the day going to an early movie.  This day we saw Frozen.  The movie was all sorts of cute and magical for Christmas Eve.  However, each time Anna broke out in song, a glance at Ryan and Nick proved both were rolling their eyes and sighing.  I think Lauren and I enjoyed the movie the most.  After the movie we went to Carrabba's Italian Restaurant for an indulgent lunch.  This tradition began last year, and I know we will continue it for years to come.  The service is good, the food excellent, and the ambiance is perfect.  The only thing we were missing was snow falling outside the window.  Maybe next year!  After Carrabba's we go home for a traditional rest/napping session. 
Then the kids open and change into their new Christmas PJs, and we read the Christmas story from the book of Luke.  We say goodbye to Chuckie.  Then we visit with neighbors and watch football bowl games until time for Jolly Old St Nick to make his way to Front Royal VA. 

Christmas morning the kids were allowed to wake us up at 6 am.  Nick was up at 5 am.  Asking to get in his stocking by 5:15 am.  He woke up Lauren at 5:30 am.  By 5:50 am, Lauren was in my facing begging to open presents.  They were so excited and thankful to Santa.  Amazed by all their gifts.  Ipad minis, baseball equipment, legos, puzzles, American Girl Doll Sage, American Girl Gymnastics set, doll amoire, and more.  Nick said he must have been extra good because Santa brought him everything he wanted plus some.  The after storm of Christmas morning meant coffee for me.  Bed for Ryan.  A lot of playing for the kids.  After showers and eating our traditional cinnamin rolls for breakfast, we headed over to Grandma and Grandaddy's house for fried oysters and turkey dinner.  Fried oysters are my favorite treat!  I'll pass up dessert anyday for fried oysters.  I'm certain all 4 grandchildren feel the same way because they tore those oysters up! 

Foltz Grandchildren

Family, relaxing, and playing.  Smiles and laughter from the kids all day.  It was a good Christmas and was full of JOY. 

The picture below was taken the weekend before Christmas at the Clearbrook Winter Wonderland Light display.  We celebrated Christmas with with Nana and Jeff by eating a lot, opening gifts, seeing the lights and watching movies. 

 

 

And that was our Magical Christmas!  Quick, and to the point...I'm sure I left out a lot of good stuff, but I hope I captured the joy!

 

*I picked up our family's first ever Advent Calendar while in Solvang California back in October.  It was a cheap paper calendar of the nativity.  This calendar was just as fun to the kids as finding 'Chuckie' the elf each morning.  I will buy a new one each year.