Celebrating Christmas Eve

In case you haven't learned, I am totally into traditions and doing the same thing each and every year...when it comes to the holidays.  This Christmas Eve was no different than the past!

We began the day by making Christmas Cookies and Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas morning.  Then Rich, the kids and I sat down to open our presents to each other.  It was also great to see the look on Harper's face when she opened up the T-Shirt quilt I made for her from all of her shirts from the past 8 years.  She love it!  I love to watch the kids open presents, but I have to admit that I absolutely love to open the presents that they get for us each year.  This year, Harper set her sights higher...she wanted to go to the mall to shop for Richard, Owen and I.  Richard took her one day and I took her another...and I did have to set a price limit.  She wanted to get her daddy a "real nice" gift!  She ended up getting Owen a Lego set, Richard a watch and hand sanitizer and she got me a charm bracelet and hand sanitizer.  Loved it!!!

Owen on the other hand made the infamous trip to Dollar Tree with Richard for my gift!  I was the lucky recipient of some "gorgeous, too pretty to use" dixie party cups.  It was even a 12 pack!  I also got a sack of green marbles...the kind that go in the bottom of a vase.  I love that little man!!  He was so excited to give a gift...the best part about Christmas!

After a nap, we got all dressed up and headed to Mass.  It always great to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas...while singing all of my favorite hymns.

After Mass, we all headed to our house to eat some yummy BBQ and open our Christmas jammies from Grandma & Boppy!  I told my mom that she did an awesome job this year...of getting me PJs that actually fit!  For several years she was very kind and bought me a size that I haven't fit into since I was in the 8th grade! :)

Then we headed outside to spread our Reindeer food that our friends sent us!  It was awesome because you could see the glitter in the moonlight.  Then we prepared Santa's plate, read the Christmas Story and headed to bed!  Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Christmas Fun!

We had several fun happenings, gathering and traditions that led up to Christmas that I wanted to share!  We love spending time with friends and family at Christmas.  Time is the best present at all!

Christmas at Grandma Marks' House- It was a very icy, cold Saturday, so many members of the family weren't able to make it.  But our small group still had a super fun time hanging out in the warm house!

Making Christmas Cookies- This might just be one of my favorite long-time Christmas traditions!  We always love making the cookies that I have been helping make since I was a little girl...not to mention the results sure are yummy! :)

Thunder Up!

Owen got to be a part of an awesome opportunity a few weeks back.  He was asked to join his friend's basketball team at the Thunder game.  The boys got to go down on the court/sideline during the National Anthem and Player Introductions and Warm-Up.  Owen was so excited and a little nervous to go all the way down on the court without Mom or Dad.  But, he was on his very best behavior and was in awe the entire time.  The icing on the cake was getting "fist bumps" from several of the players before the game started!  It made me smile to see those super tall guys squat down to say hello to him.  So much fun!  Go Thunder!!!

The Firebirds are Back!

Harper's basketball season started back up in mid-December.  We were so excited to see the Firebirds back in action!  It is amazing how much they have improved...just by getting older.  Harper was really excited about being back in the game and is really trying hard to score some baskets this year!

{The coolest thing about this league is that both teams pray before each game!}